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Journal of Pediatric Neurology 2015; 13(03): 105-109
DOI: 10.1055/s-0035-1557147
Original Article
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Emotional Lability in Children and Adolescents Affected by Tourette Syndrome

Mariangela Gulisano
1   Section of Child and Adolescent Neurology and Psychiatry, Department of Medical and Pediatric Sciences, Catania University, Catania, Italy
,
Alessandra Pellico
1   Section of Child and Adolescent Neurology and Psychiatry, Department of Medical and Pediatric Sciences, Catania University, Catania, Italy
,
Filippo Palermo
2   Section of Infectious Disease, Department of Internal and Specialist Medicine, University of Catania, Italy
,
Paolo Curatolo
3   Section of Child Neuropsychiatry, Department of Neurosciences, Tor Vergata University, Rome, Italy
,
Renata Rizzo
1   Section of Child and Adolescent Neurology and Psychiatry, Department of Medical and Pediatric Sciences, Catania University, Catania, Italy
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

09 October 2014

18 January 2015

Publication Date:
07 August 2015 (online)

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Abstract

Ninety-two patients with Tourette syndrome (TS) were studied to investigate the occurrence of emotional lability (EL) in TS, its relationship to comorbid conditions, and the risk of developing bipolar disorder (BD). Patients were divided in three clinical subgroups, according with child behavior checklist anxious/depressed, attention and aggressive scales: group (G) 1: score >210 (risk of development BD), G2: score >180 but < 210 (patients with EL), G3: score <180 (normal). In G1, 9.3% of patients with no “pure TS” were observed (TS + ADHD [attention deficit hyperactivity disorder], 23%); TS + OCD [obsessive compulsive disorder], 67%; TS + ADHD + OCD, 10%). In G2, 44.3% of patients with “pure TS” as “TS + comorbidity” were represented. In G3, 46% of patients with “TS + comorbidity” were observed, while 64% of patients with “pure TS” were represented. Our findings suggested that EL is a core feature in TS, related to mood and anxiety disorders. Comorbid conditions such as ADHD and OCD were important factors responsible of TS malfunctioning causing anxiety and depressive symptoms and increase the risk of developing BD.

Keywords

Tourette syndrome - emotional lability - bipolar disorder - ADHD - obsessive compulsive disorder
 

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