research abstract: OCD with and without Tourette

[Guest guest]

OCD and Tourette together seems to be a more severe condition than

either OCD or Tourette alone.

Fran

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Abstract: Clinical research has documented a bidirectional overlap between

Tourette's disorder (TD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) from

familial-genetic, phenomenological, comorbidity, and natural history

perspectives. Patients with Tourette's disorder plus obsessive-compulsive

disorder (TD + OCD), a putative subtype, share features of both. The purpose

of this exploratory study was to evaluate correlates of patients with

TD, OCD,

and TD + OCD to determine whether TD + OCD is a subtype of TD, OCD, or an

additive form of both. Sixty-one subjects with TD, OCD, or TD + OCD were

evaluated with the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R supplemented

with additional modules. The three groups differed in the rates of bipolar

disorder (p < .04), social phobia (p < .02), body dysmorphic disorder (p <

..002), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (p < .03), and substance use

disorders (p < .04). These findings were accounted for by the elevated rates

of the disorders in the TD + OCD group compared with the TD and OCD groups.

These finding are most consistent with the hypothesis that TD + OCD is a more

severe disorder than TD and OCD and may be more etiologically linked to TD

than to OCD. These findings highlight the importance of assessment of

the full

spectrum of psychiatric comorbidity in patients with TD and OCD.

Author:

•Coffey BJ • EC •Biederman J •Baer L •Rauch SL •O'Sullivan RL

•Savage CR

• K •Borgman A •Green-Leibovitz MI • E •Park KS •Jenike MA

Address: Joint Program in Pediatric Psychopharmacology, Massachusetts

General

Hospital, town 02129, USA.

Jackie