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Br J Pharmacol 2019 Feb 4. Epub 2019 Feb 4.

Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Yale University, 34 Park Street, 333b, New Haven, CT, 06524.

Histamine dysregulation was implicated as a rare cause of Tourette syndrome and other tic disorders a decade ago by a landmark genetic study in a high-density family pedigree, which implicated a hypomorphic mutation in the histidine decarboxylase (Hdc) gene as a rare but high-penetrance genetic cause. Studies in Hdc knockout mice have confirmed that this mutation causes tic-relevant behavioral and neurochemical abnormalities that parallel what is seen in patients and thus validate the knockout as a potentially informative model of tic pathophysiology. Recent studies have focused on the potential role of the H3R histamine receptor in this model, and by association in tic disorders and related neuropsychiatric conditions. Read More

Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2019 Jan 19. Epub 2019 Jan 19.

Clinic of Psychiatry, Social Psychiatry, and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.

Although the DSM-5 chronic motor tic disorder (CMTD) and Tourette syndrome (TS) are distinct diagnostic categories, there is no genetic or phenotypic evidence that supports this diagnostic categorization. The aim of this study was to compare patients with both diagnoses along a number of clinical characteristics to provide further diagnostic clarity. Our sample consisted of 1018 patients (including adult and child patients) suffering from chronic tic disorders. Read More

JAMA Neurol 2019 Jan 14. Epub 2019 Jan 14.

Centre for Psychiatry Research, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.

Importance: There are limited data concerning the risk of metabolic and cardiovascular disorders among individuals with Tourette syndrome (TS) or chronic tic disorder (CTD).

Objective: To investigate the risk of metabolic and cardiovascular disorders among individuals with TS or CTD over a period of 40 years.

Design, Settings, And Participants: This longitudinal population-based cohort study included all individuals living in Sweden between January 1, 1973, and December 31, 2013. Read More

Int Rev Neurobiol 2018 12;143:65-108. Epub 2018 Oct 12.

Centre de Référence National Maladie Rare 'Syndrome Gilles de la Tourette, Paris, France; Sorbonne Université, UMR S 1127, CNRS UMR 7225, ICM, Paris, France; Départment de Physiologie, Hôpital Saint-Antoine, Paris, France.

Tics are neurodevelopmental hyperkinetic symptoms typically associated with unpleasant sensory experiences called premonitory urges. Tourette syndrome (TS) is the primary chronic tic disorder for which medical surveillance is most frequently required, and is associated with a complex phenotypical spectrum encompassing different types of abnormal behaviors. Animal models of tics support their link to phasic activity changes throughout the sensorimotor loop of the cortico-basal ganglia-thalamo-cortical network. Read More

F1000Res 2018 23;7:1122. Epub 2018 Jul 23.

Psychiatry, Neurology, Radiology, and Neuroscience, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110-1093, USA.

This is the fourth yearly article in the Tourette Syndrome Research Highlights series, summarizing research from 2017 relevant to Tourette syndrome and other tic disorders. The authors briefly summarize reports they consider most important or interesting. The  highlights from 2018 article is being drafted on the Authorea online authoring platform, and readers are encouraged to add references or give feedback on our selections using the comments feature on that page. Read More

Compr Psychiatry 2018 Nov 25;87:38-45. Epub 2018 Aug 25.

Marquette University, 604 N. 16th St., Milwaukee, WI 53233, United States of America. Electronic address:

Children with persistent (chronic) tic disorders (PTDs) experience impairment across multiple domains of functioning, but given high rates of other non-tic-related conditions, it is often difficult to differentiate the extent to which such impairment is related to tics or to other problems. The current study used the Child Tourette's Syndrome Impairment Scale - Parent Report (CTIM-P) to examine parents' attributions of their child's impairment in home, school, and social domains in a sample of 58 children with PTD. Each domain was rated on the extent to which the parents perceived that impairment was related to tics versus non-tic-related concerns. Read More

Curr Neuropharmacol 2018 Aug 27. Epub 2018 Aug 27.

Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy TU Dresden. Germany.

While Behavioral Therapy (BT) should be recommended as the first step in the treatment of OCD as well as TS, medication can be added for augmentation and in certain situations (e.g. family preference, BT not available or feasible) the priority may even reverse. Read More

CNS Drugs 2018 Oct;32(10):917-938

Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Room A3-111, 938 West 28th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 4H4, Canada.

Background: Although antipsychotics are used to treat Tourette syndrome, there have been reports of paradoxical induction of tics by first- and second-generation antipsychotics.

Objective: The objective of this systematic review was to better characterize tics as the potential adverse effect of antipsychotics.

Methods: A literature search was performed, with no language restriction, using the MEDLINE, EMBASE, and PsycINFO databases for all publications up to January 2018. Read More

Front Neurol 2018 22;9:477. Epub 2018 Jun 22.

Department of Neurology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.

Stimulus-bound tics (SBTs) belong to stimulus-induced behaviors and are defined as tics that occur in response to internal or external stimuli. The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence and associations of SBTs with other stimulus-triggered behaviors, premonitory urges and stimulus sensitization in Gilles de la Tourette syndrome (GTS). We performed a prospective, one-registration study in a cohort of 140 consecutive patients with GTS. Read More

Brain Sci 2018 Jul 6;8(7). Epub 2018 Jul 6.

School of Medicine, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá 111711, Colombia.

Background: Tourette syndrome (TS) is a childhood-onset neuropsychiatric disorder consisting of impairing motor and vocal tics which often persists adolescent and adult years. In this older refractory group, standard treatments such as pharmacotherapy and psychotherapeutic interventions may only have limited effects. Based on electrical cortical dysregulation in individuals with TS, a novel approach has employed brain stimulation strategies to modulate the putative aberrant neural electrical activity in pathways that may underlie tics, such as insula-supplementary motor area (SMA) connectivity. Read More

Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2019 Jan 7;28(1):91-109. Epub 2018 Jul 7.

Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ, Groningen, The Netherlands.

Genetic predisposition, autoimmunity and environmental factors [e.g. pre- and perinatal difficulties, Group A Streptococcal (GAS) and other infections, stress-inducing events] might interact to create a neurobiological vulnerability to the development of tics and associated behaviours. Read More

Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2019 Jan 28;28(1):57-68. Epub 2018 Jun 28.

Center for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Aarhus University Hospital Risskov, Risskov, Denmark.

Chronic tic disorders may have a huge influence on quality of life. Habit reversal training (HRT) and exposure response prevention (ERP) are effective treatments. In a blinded assessed, open trial, this study evaluates the effectiveness of a newly developed Scandinavian tic treating manual designed to treat adolescents with a chronic tic disorder, combining HRT and ERP. Read More

Childs Nerv Syst 2018 Sep 24;34(9):1771-1776. Epub 2018 May 24.

Department of Neurosurgery, Florence Nightingale Hospital, Istanbul Bilim University, Abide-i Hurriyet Cad. No:164 Sisli, Istanbul, Turkey.

Introduction: DBS is initially used for treatment of essential tremor and Parkinson's disease in adults. In 1996, a child with severe life-threatening dystonia was offered DBS to the internal globus pallidus (GPi) with lasting efficacy at 20 years. Since that time, increasing number of children benefited from DBS. Read More

Dev Med Child Neurol 2018 09 10;60(9):942-950. Epub 2018 May 10.

Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, APHP, Paris, France.

Aim: To explore the heterogeneity of Tourette syndrome as part of a neurodevelopmental spectrum.

Method: Using hierarchical ascendant clustering based on tic symptoms, developmental milestones, and neurodevelopmental comorbidities, we analyzed the heterogeneity of Tourette syndrome phenotypes in a sample of 174 children and adolescents with Tourette syndrome referred to a tertiary university clinic.

Results: The model yielded three distinct clusters characterized as follows. Read More

Pediatr Neurol 2018 May 27;82:7-12. Epub 2017 Sep 27.

Al-Manara CAP Centre, Kuwait Centre for Mental Health (KCMH), Shuwaikh, Kuwait. Electronic address:

One or more comorbidities occur in up to 80% of children with attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder. Attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder is also over-represented in several special populations. Pharmacotherapy can be challenging in these individuals with other conditions due to a suboptimal therapeutic response and an increased likelihood of adverse reactions. Read More

Pract Neurol 2018 Aug 10;18(4):262-270. Epub 2018 Apr 10.

The Gilles de la Tourette syndrome (or Tourette's syndrome) has a prevalence of 1% of children with a wide range of severity and associated comorbidities. The last 20 years have seen advances in the understanding of the syndrome's complex genetics and underlying neurobiology. Investigation with imaging and neurophysiology techniques indicate it is a neurodevelopmental condition with dysfunction of basal ganglia-cortical interactions, which are now also being studied in animal models. Read More

Mov Disord 2018 Jul 6;33(6):937-946. Epub 2018 Mar 6.

Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London, London, UK.

Inhibitory control is crucial for normal adaptive motor behavior. In hyperkinesias, such as tics, disinhibition within the cortico-striato-thalamo-cortical loops is thought to underlie the presence of involuntary movements. Paradoxically, tics are also subject to voluntary inhibitory control. Read More

Drugs 2018 04;78(5):525-541

Parkinson's Disease Center and Movement Disorders Clinic, Department of Neurology, Baylor College of Medicine, 7200 Cambridge, Suite 9A, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.

Tardive dyskinesia (TD) encompasses the spectrum of iatrogenic hyperkinetic movement disorders following exposure to dopamine receptor-blocking agents (DRBAs). Despite the advent of atypical or second- and third-generation antipsychotics with a presumably lower risk of complications, TD remains a persistent and challenging problem. Prevention is the first step in mitigating the risk of TD, but early recognition, gradual withdrawal of offending medications, and appropriate treatment are also critical. Read More

J Neurol Sci 2018 Jun 6;389:10-16. Epub 2018 Feb 6.

Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Center, Departments of Neurology, Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33613, United States.

Since the original description of side effects of neuroleptics, different terminologies and definitions for tardive dyskinesia (TD) and tardive syndrome (TS) have been used by different authors, and often these two terms have been used interchangeably. This paper proposes a nosology designed to define and clarify various terms and phenomenologies within the TS spectrum. We propose to use the term tardive dyskinesia to refer to the original description of repetitive and complex oral-buccal-lingual (OBL) movements, as well as to the analogous repetitive movements that can appear in the limbs, trunk, or pelvis. Read More

J Can Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2018 Jan 1;27(1):15-21. Epub 2018 Jan 1.

Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Psychiatry, Pediatrics and Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta.

Background: Tourette syndrome (TS) is often co-morbid with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Studies of TS, anxiety and depression have found variable results depending on study methodology and sample characteristics. Our aim was to examine the clinical utility of routine screening for anxiety and depression in children with TS. Read More

Prog Neurol Surg 2018 12;33:198-206. Epub 2018 Jan 12.

The use of deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the thalamus has been proven to be a safe and efficacious treatment for the management of many diseases. The most common indication for thalamic DBS remains essential tremor (ET), one of the most common movement disorders in the world. ET patients should be considered for surgical intervention when their tremor has demonstrated to be refractory to medication, a characteristic estimated to be present in roughly 50% of ET cases. Read More

Handb Clin Neurol 2018 ;147:343-354

Child Study Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States; Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States. Electronic address:

Tourette disorder is a developmental neuropsychiatric condition characterized by vocal and motor tics that can range in severity from mild to disabling. It represents one end of a spectrum of tic disorders and is estimated to affect 0.5-0. Read More

Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2018 Jan 5;1:CD012285. Epub 2018 Jan 5.

Department of Neurology, G.B. Pant Hospital, New Delhi, India, 110002.

Background: Gilles de la Tourette syndrome, or Tourette's syndrome, is defined as the presence of both motor and vocal (phonic) tics for more than 12 months, that manifest before the age of 18 years, in the absence of secondary causes. Treatment of motor and phonic tics is difficult and challenging.

Objectives: To determine the safety and effectiveness of botulinum toxin in treating motor and phonic tics in people with Tourette's syndrome, and to analyse the effect of botulinum toxin on premonitory urge and sensory tics. Read More

Brain Nerve 2017 Dec;69(12):1373-1385

Yoshiko Nomura Neurological Clinic for Children.

Tourette syndrome (TS) is a neuropsychiatric disorder with the onset in childhood. TS is a form of tic disorders, and characterized by the motor and vocal tics, and comorbidities such as attention deficit hyperkinetic and obsessive compulsive disorders. These symptoms appear age dependently, showing a wax and wane course, and subside or abolish by the late teens. Read More

Tremor Other Hyperkinet Mov (N Y) 2017 12;7:529. Epub 2017 Dec 12.

Department of Neurology, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden.

Background: Paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia (PKD) is a rare condition associated with heterozygous mutations in the proline-rich transmembrane protein 2 () gene.

Phenomenology Shown: In this article we illustrate the phenomenology of PKD in a male previously misdiagnosed with Tourette's syndrome.

Educational Value: Regardless of the underlying phenotype, PKD is highly responsive to some antiepileptic drugs. Read More

Expert Rev Neurother 2018 02 8;18(2):125-137. Epub 2017 Dec 8.

a Department of Clinical Neurosciences , Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary and Hotchkiss Brain Institute , Calgary , Canada.

Introduction: The management of Tourette syndrome (TS) and other chronic tic disorders occurs in multiple stages and begins with comprehensive assessment and complex psychoeducation. Behavioral and pharmacological interventions (second stage) are needed when tics cause physical or psychosocial impairment. Deep brain stimulation surgery or experimental therapies represent the third stage. Read More

F1000Res 2017 11;6:1430. Epub 2017 Aug 11.

Departments of Psychiatry, Neurology, Radiology, and Neuroscience, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA.

This article presents highlights chosen from research that appeared during 2016 on Tourette syndrome and other tic disorders. Selected articles felt to represent meaningful advances in the field are briefly summarized. Read More

Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2018 03 28;82:69-85. Epub 2017 Nov 28.

BSMHFT National Centre for Mental Health, Birmingham, and College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, UK. Electronic address:

Impairments in social cognition may reflect dysfunction of disorder specific or disorder general mechanisms. Although cross-disorder comparison may prove insightful, few studies have compared social cognition in different neuropsychiatric disorders. Parallel investigation of schizophrenia and Tourette syndrome (TS) is encouraged by similarities including the presence of problematic social behavior, echophenomena, emotional dysregulation and dopamine dysfunction. Read More

Int Rev Neurobiol 2017 9;134:1461-1490. Epub 2017 Jun 9.

University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.

The clinical surveillance and active management of Tourette syndrome (TS) and other primary chronic tic disorders cannot be limited to tics, as these patients manifest a spectrum of sensory-, behavioral-, cognitive-, and sleep-related problems that have a major impact on their functioning and quality of life, influencing enormously clinical decision making on a routine basis. The sensory phenomena of primary tic disorders consist of premonitory urges and heightened sensitivity to external somatosensory and interoceptive stimuli. Recent evidence suggests that raised interoceptive awareness may be related to the classical premonitory urges associated with tics. Read More

J Neuropsychol 2017 Aug 12. Epub 2017 Aug 12.

Department of Paediatric and Adult Movement Disorders and Neuropsychiatry, Institute of Neurogenetics, University of Lübeck, Germany.

Objective: Echopraxia, that is, the open and automatic imitation of other peoples' actions, is common in patients with Gilles de la Tourette syndrome, autism spectrum disorder, and also those with frontal lobe lesions. While systematic reaction time tasks have confirmed increased automatic imitation in the latter two groups, adult patients with Tourette syndrome appear to compensate for automatic imitation tendencies by an overall slowing in response times. However, whether children with Tourette syndrome are already able to inhibit automatic imitation tendencies has not been investigated. Read More

Psychother Psychosom Med Psychol 2017 Jun 22;67(6):252-268. Epub 2017 Jun 22.

Klinik für Psychiatrie, Sozialpsychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover.

Gilles de la Tourette syndrome is a chronic neuropsychiatric movement disease with combined motor tics and at least one vocal tic for a minimum period of 1 year. It typically begins in the childhood (under 18 years of age).Most of the patients with Tourette syndrome have comorbidities, which often impair their quality of life more than the tics themselves. Read More

Brain Cogn 2017 10 12;117:33-40. Epub 2017 Jul 12.

Department of Neuroscience, Georgetown University, Box 571464, Washington, DC 20057-1464, United States. Electronic address:

Procedural memory, which is rooted in the basal ganglia, plays an important role in the implicit learning of motor and cognitive skills. Few studies have examined procedural learning in either Tourette syndrome (TS) or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), despite basal ganglia abnormalities in both of these neurodevelopmental disorders. We aimed to assess procedural learning in children with TS (n=13), ADHD (n=22), and comorbid TS-ADHD (n=20), as well as in typically developing children (n=21). Read More

Brain Sci 2017 Jul 9;7(7). Epub 2017 Jul 9.

Tourette Syndrome Centre, Clinical and Research Galeazzi Hospital, Milan 20161, Italy.

(1) Background: Literature suggests that high levels of dopamine are associated with creative thoughts. Tourette Syndrome (TS) patients have high dopamine levels, while Parkinson's Disease (PD) subjects have low dopamine levels. Consequently, TS individuals are supposed to have a major and PD patients less creative output. Read More

J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2017 Jul 11;56(7):610-617.e1. Epub 2017 May 11.

University of Florida, Gainesville. Electronic address:

Objective: Tourette's disorder (TD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) share clinical features and possibly an overlapping etiology. The aims of this study were to examine ASD symptom rates in participants with TD, and to characterize the relationships between ASD symptom patterns and TD, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Method: Participants with TD (n = 535) and their family members (n =234) recruited for genetic studies reported TD, OCD, and ADHD symptoms and completed the Social Responsiveness Scale Second Edition (SRS), which was used to characterize ASD symptoms. Read More

Lancet Neurol 2017 08 20;16(8):610-619. Epub 2017 Jun 20.

Unité Mixte de Recherche (UMR) S1127, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), UMR 7225, Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle Epinière, Paris, France; AP-HP, Personalised Neurology and Psychiatry University Department, Hôpitaux Universitaires Henri Mondor - Albert Chenevier, Université Paris Est Créteil, Créteil, France; Department of Mental Health and Psychiatry, Geneva University Hospital, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.

Background: Deep brain stimulation (DBS) has been proposed to treat patients with severe Tourette's syndrome, and open-label trials and two small double-blind trials have tested DBS of the posterior and the anterior internal globus pallidus (aGPi). We aimed to specifically assess the efficacy of aGPi DBS for severe Tourette's syndrome.

Methods: In this randomised, double-blind, controlled trial, we recruited patients aged 18-60 years with severe and medically refractory Tourette's syndrome from eight hospitals specialised in movement disorders in France. Read More

Drugs 2017 Jul;77(10):1123-1129

Springer, Private Bag 65901, Mairangi Bay 0754, Auckland, New Zealand.

Valbenazine (Ingrezza™) is an orally bioavailable, selective, vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2) inhibitor being developed by Neurocrine Biosciences for the treatment of various central nervous system disorders. Valbenazine has been approved in the USA for the treatment of adults with tardive dyskinesia (TD), is at various stages of development in other countries for TD and is in phase 2 development in the USA for Tourette syndrome. This article summarizes the milestones in the development of valbenazine leading to its first global approval in the USA for the treatment of adults with TD. Read More

Tremor Other Hyperkinet Mov (N Y) 2017 17;7:441. Epub 2017 May 17.

Department of Neurology, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.

Background: Tic disorders are generally considered to be of pediatric onset; however, reports of adult-onset tics exist in the literature. Tics can be categorized as either primary or secondary, with the latter being the larger group in adults. Primary or idiopathic tics that arise in adulthood make up a subset of tic disorders whose epidemiologic and clinical features have not been well delineated. Read More

Dose Response 2017 Jan-Mar;15(1):1559325817690849. Epub 2017 Mar 16.

Department of Research, The Institute of Chronic Illnesses, Inc, Silver Spring, MD, USA.

Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), tic disorder (TD), and hyperkinetic syndrome of childhood (attention deficit disorder [ADD]/attention deficit hyperactivity disorder [ADHD]) are disorders recently defined as abnormal connectivity spectrum disorders (ACSDs) because they show a similar pattern of abnormal brain connectivity. This study examines whether these disorders are associated with exposure to thimerosal, a mercury (Hg)-based preservative.

Methods: A hypothesis testing case-control study evaluated the Vaccine Safety Datalink for the potential dose-dependent odds ratios (ORs) for diagnoses of ASD, TD, and ADD/ADHD compared to controls, following exposure to Hg from thimerosal-containing type b vaccines administrated within the first 15 months of life. Read More

Transl Psychiatry 2017 05 9;7(5):e1126. Epub 2017 May 9.

Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Clinical Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.

The histaminergic system (HS) has a critical role in cognition, sleep and other behaviors. Although not well studied in autism spectrum disorder (ASD), the HS is implicated in many neurological disorders, some of which share comorbidity with ASD, including Tourette syndrome (TS). Preliminary studies suggest that antagonism of histamine receptors 1-3 reduces symptoms and specific behaviors in ASD patients and relevant animal models. Read More

J Neurosci Methods 2017 Dec 5;292:30-36. Epub 2017 May 5.

CNRS, Institut des Maladies Neurodégénératives, UMR 5293, F-33000 Bordeaux, France. Electronic address:

Background: The pathophysiological hypothesis underlying tic disorders in Tourette syndrome (TS) is that basal ganglia are not capable of properly filtering cortical information, leading patients with difficulties in inhibiting unwanted behaviors or impulses. One of the main challenges for furthering such a hypothesis is to find appropriate animal models summarizing some aspects of the disease.

Methods: It has been established for more than 25 years in rodents that the prototypical serotonin (5-HT) agonist meta-chlorophenylpiperazine (m-CPP) elicits purposeless oral movements including chewing behavior. Read More

PLoS Comput Biol 2017 03 30;13(3):e1005395. Epub 2017 Mar 30.

Laboratory of Computational Embodied Neuroscience, Institute of Cognitive Sciences and Technologies, National Research Council (CNR-ISTC-LOCEN), Roma, Italy.

Motor tics are a cardinal feature of Tourette syndrome and are traditionally associated with an excess of striatal dopamine in the basal ganglia. Recent evidence increasingly supports a more articulated view where cerebellum and cortex, working closely in concert with basal ganglia, are also involved in tic production. Building on such evidence, this article proposes a computational model of the basal ganglia-cerebellar-thalamo-cortical system to study how motor tics are generated in Tourette syndrome. Read More

Cytokine 2017 08 10;96:49-53. Epub 2017 Mar 10.

National Pediatric Myoclonus Center and National Pediatric Neuroinflammation Organization, Inc., Orlando, FL, USA. Electronic address:

A longstanding question is whether neuroinflammation is present in children symptomatic for Tourette syndrome (TS) with positive streptococcal serology and throat cultures. The objective was to directly test for it using modern hypothesis-driven approaches. Profiling studies for 14 immune cell types (flow cytometry), 7 chemokines/cytokines (ELISA), oligoclonal bands, and other immunoglobulins were performed in this IRB-approved study of 5 children with TS and streptococcal markers compared to data from 26 non-inflammatory pediatric neurological controls. Read More

Rev Neurol 2017 Feb;64(s01):S65-S72

Hospital Santa Maria del Rosell, 30203 Cartagena, Espana.

Introduction: Tourette's disorder is the result of fronto-striatal brain dysfunction affecting people of all ages, with a debut in early childhood and continuing into adolescence and adulthood.

Development: This article reviews the main cognitive, functional neuroimaging and creativity-related studies in a disorder characterized by an excess of dopamine in the brain.

Conclusions: Given the special cerebral configuration of these patients, neuropsychological alterations, especially in executive functions, should be expected. Read More

J Neurosci Methods 2017 Dec 22;292:12-19. Epub 2017 Feb 22.

Department of Psychiatry, Department of Psychology, Child Study Center, Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale University, 34 Park Street, W315, New Haven, CT, 06519, USA. Electronic address:

Background: Recent advances in our understanding of the neurobiology of tics have led to the development of novel rodent models capturing different pathophysiological and phenotypic aspects of Tourette syndrome. The proliferation of these models, however, raises vexing questions on what standards should be adopted to assess their theoretical validity and empirical utility. Assessing the homology of a rodent motoric burst with a tic remains problematic, due to our incomplete knowledge of the underpinnings of tics, their high phenotypic complexity and variability, limitations in our ability test key aspects of tic phenomenology (such as premonitory sensory phenomena) in animals, and between-species differences in neuroanatomy and behavioral repertoire. Read More

Mov Disord 2017 05 10;32(5):669-681. Epub 2017 Feb 10.

Department of Neurology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.

Restless legs syndrome is a frequent neurological disorder with potentially serious and highly distressing treatment complications. The role and potential implications of periodic leg movements during sleep range from being a genetic risk marker for restless legs syndrome to being a cardiovascular risk factor. The diagnosis of restless legs syndrome in patients with daytime movement disorders is challenging and restless legs syndrome needs to be differentiated from other sleep-related movement disorders. Read More

Psychiatry Res 2017 04 2;250:228-233. Epub 2017 Feb 2.

Department of Pediatrics, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Calgary, AB, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada. Electronic address:

Tourette Syndrome (TS) is a childhood onset neuropsychiatric disorder. The objective of this study was to compare self-perceived health status, health-related behaviours, and chronic health conditions in individuals with and without TS using population-based data. Data were derived from Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) 2010 and 2011 cycles. Read More

J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol 2017 Apr 18;27(3):243-249. Epub 2017 Jan 18.

4 Imperial College London , London, United Kingdom .

Objective: Gilles de la Tourette syndrome (GTS) and depression are both common disorders. It has been suggested that depression occurs in 13%-76% GTS patients. Despite this, there are few studies into the specific relationships and correlates between the two disorders. Read More

World J Biol Psychiatry 2018 10 14;19(7):521-526. Epub 2017 Feb 14.

a Department of Pediatrics , The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University , Qingdao , China.

Objectives: Twin and family analyses have revealed a genetic contribution to Tourette syndrome (TS) and post-mortem studies have raised the intriguing possibility of a reduction in cholinergic interneuronsin TS patients.

Methods: We selected five tag SNPs (rs100824791, rs12264845, rs1880676, rs3793790 and rs3793798) of choline acetyltransferase (CHAT) from the Han Chinese population Hapmap database. Genotyping was conducted on 401 TS nuclear family trios and 405 control subjects. Read More

Mov Disord 2017 03 10;32(3):467-473. Epub 2017 Jan 10.

National Center of Epidemiology and Centro Investigación Biomédica en Red Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas, Carlos III Institute of Health, Madrid, Spain.

Background: Several clinician, informant, and self-report instruments for tics and associated phenomena have been developed that differ in construct, comprehensiveness, and ease of administration.

Objective: A Movement Disorders Society subcommittee aimed to rate psychometric quality of severity and screening instruments for tics and related sensory phenomena.

Methods: Following the methodology adopted by previous Movement Disorders Society subcommittee papers, a review of severity and screening instruments for tics was completed, applying a classification as "recommended," "suggested," or "listed" to each instrument. Read More