Tourette Syndrome and Comorbid Neuropsychiatric Conditions

Abstract

Tourette syndrome is a neuropsychiatric condition characterized by both motor and phonic tics over a period of at least 1 year with the onset in childhood or adolescence. Apart from the tics, most of the patients with Tourette syndrome have associated neuropsychiatric comorbidities consisting of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, rage attacks, sleep issues, depression, and migraine. Patients may also have physical complications directly from violent motor tics which can rarely include cervical myelopathy, arterial dissection, and stroke. The purpose of this article is to review the associated neuropsychiatric comorbidities of Tourette syndrome with emphasis on recent research.