Background Little is known about the perceived impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown measures on young patients with tic disorders. Previous studies focused on clinician and parent ratings of tic severity, whereas the... more
Background Little is known about the perceived impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown measures on young patients with tic disorders. Previous studies focused on clinician and parent ratings of tic severity, whereas the only international self-report data are available for adult populations. We present the first findings from a case–control study on children and adolescents with tics during lockdown in Italy. Methods We surveyed 49 patients aged 6–18 years and 245 matched controls with a newly developed questionnaire covering socio-demographic and clinical data, as well as lockdown-related changes to daily life activities. Results About half (53.2%) of the Italian school-age patients who took part in our survey experienced changes in tic severity during lockdown. Perceived increases in tic severity (29.8%) were reported more often than decreases (23.4%). Analogous trends were reported for perceived restlessness and, more significantly, irritability, whereas changes i...
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Background: Tourette syndrome (TS) is a neuropsychiatric disorder characterized by the chronic presence of multiple motor tics and at least one vocal/phonic tic since childhood. Tics typically change and vary in both intensity and... more
Background: Tourette syndrome (TS) is a neuropsychiatric disorder characterized by the chronic presence of multiple motor tics and at least one vocal/phonic tic since childhood. Tics typically change and vary in both intensity and severity over time, with remission and exacerbation common. In the vast majority of patients, tic expression is characteristically accompanied by discomforting bodily sensations, known as sensory phenomena or premonitory urges. Methods: We reviewed the existing literature on premonitory urges associated with the sense of voluntariness of action in TS. Results: Although the wish to move is perceived by the patient as involuntary, the decision to release the tic is often perceived by the patient as a voluntary capitulation to the subjective urge. Most patients with TS can exert a degree of control over the urge and constantly try to inhibit the movement. Based on these features, it has been suggested that tics performed in response to an urge to move should ...
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Aims Gilles de la Tourette syndrome, originally described by Georges Gilles de la Tourette in 1885, is a developmental neuropsychiatric disorder characterised by multiple motor and vocal tics, usually presenting with a waxing and waning... more
Aims Gilles de la Tourette syndrome, originally described by Georges Gilles de la Tourette in 1885, is a developmental neuropsychiatric disorder characterised by multiple motor and vocal tics, usually presenting with a waxing and waning course over time. Complex tic-related symptoms, such as forced touching, self-injurious behaviours, echolalia/echopraxia, palilalia/palipraxia, and coprophenomena, have been included in the classical clinical picture. Moreover, associated psychopathology is quite common, especially obsessive-compulsive disorder, attention-deficit and hyperactivity disorder, anxiety and mood disorders. Converging evidence from epidemiological, phenomenological, neuroanatomical and genetic studies suggests that certain psychopathological features are not integral to the syndrome, whereas others seem to be genetically linked. However, controversy has traditionally characterised our understanding of the links between the behavioural problems and Gilles de la Tourette syn...
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Summary Objective The clinical picture of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other forms of degenerative de- mentia is characterized by cognitive and neuropsychological dysfunction and progres- sive loss of reflective consciousness (RC),... more
Summary Objective The clinical picture of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other forms of degenerative de- mentia is characterized by cognitive and neuropsychological dysfunction and progres- sive loss of reflective consciousness (RC), sometimes referred to as self-awareness. However, limited knowledge is currently available concerning the specific pattern of impairment in RC in different stages and subtypes of dementia. The aim of this study was to investigate RC in a population of patients with degenerative dementia, with special attention being focused on the relationship between alteration of RC and the natural history/neuropsychiatric profile of the disease.
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Background The association of stereotypies and tics is not rare in children with severe autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The differential diagnosis between stereotypies and tics in this patient population can be difficult; however, it... more
Background The association of stereotypies and tics is not rare in children with severe autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The differential diagnosis between stereotypies and tics in this patient population can be difficult; however, it could be clinically relevant because of treatment implications. Methods A total of 108 video recordings of repetitive behaviors in young patients with stereotypies in the context of ASD were reviewed by a movement disorders expert and a trainee, in order to assess the prevalence of possible co-morbid tics. The Modified Rush Videotape Rating Scale (MRVS) was used to rate tic frequency and severity. Results Out of 27 patients with stereotypies (24 males; mean age 14 years), 18 (67%) reported possible tics. The most frequently observed tics were eye blinking, shoulder shrugging, neck bending, staring, and throat clearing. The mean MRVS score was 5, indicating mild tic severity. The only significant difference between patients with tics and patients without...
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What do ancient Stoicism and cognitive behavioural therapy have in common? As shown by Scottish psychotherapist Donald Robertson, they might well share the very core principles. The new edition of ...
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Background Movement disorders have been described in the context of different types of encephalitis. Among hyperkinetic manifestations, tics have sporadically been reported in cases of encephalitis resulting from a range of aetiologies.... more
Background Movement disorders have been described in the context of different types of encephalitis. Among hyperkinetic manifestations, tics have sporadically been reported in cases of encephalitis resulting from a range of aetiologies. Objective This review aimed to assess the prevalence and characteristics of tics in patients with encephalitis. Methods We conducted a systematic literature review of original studies on the major scientific databases, according to the standards outlined in the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Results In addition to the established association between tics and encephalitis lethargica, our literature search identified reports of tics in patients with immune-mediated pathologies (including autoimmune encephalitides affecting the N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor, voltage-gated potassium channels, and glycine receptors) and infective processes (ranging from relatively common viral pathogens, such as her...
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Aim:To systematically review the available literature on the prevalence and clinical characteristics of headache in patients with Tourette syndrome (TS), a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by the chronic presence of motor and... more
Aim:To systematically review the available literature on the prevalence and clinical characteristics of headache in patients with Tourette syndrome (TS), a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by the chronic presence of motor and vocal tics.Design:We conducted a systematic literature review of original studies using three clinical databases (Medline, EMBASE and PsycInfo), according to the standards outlined in the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Outcome measures included both tic severity and tic frequency.Results:Our systematic literature review identified six studies on the prevalence and characteristics of headache in patients with TS (data on paediatric patients were available from five studies and data on adult patients from four studies). The proportion of patients with TS who had a diagnosis of headache ranged from 29% to 62%. Migraine was the most commonly investigated headache disorder in this patient population. The find...
Research Interests: Pediatrics, Medicine, Population, TICS, Migraine, and 3 moreMedline, Systematic review, and Tourette Syndrome
Aim: Correctly diagnosing repetitive behaviors in patients with Tourette syndrome (TS) can be challenging. The differential diagnosis between tics and stereotypies is of particular importance, because of treatment implications. Methods:... more
Aim: Correctly diagnosing repetitive behaviors in patients with Tourette syndrome (TS) can be challenging. The differential diagnosis between tics and stereotypies is of particular importance, because of treatment implications. Methods: We assessed the prevalence and clinical characteristics of stereotypies in a large sample of adult patients with TS attending a specialist clinic. Results: Mild stereotypies were reported by 21/148 patients (14.2%). Patients with stereotypies were significantly more likely to have a comorbid diagnosis of Asperger syndrome, attention-deficit and hyperactivity disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder, compared with patients without stereotypies. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that the presence of Asperger syndrome significantly predicted stereotypy severity. Conclusion: Stereotypies are not rare in adults with TS and other neurodevelopmental conditions, especially Asperger syndrome.
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Background Tourette syndrome (TS) and persistent motor/vocal tic disorders are neurodevelopmental conditions characterised by the chronic presence of motor and/or vocal tics. Patients with TS often present with co-morbid disorders,... more
Background Tourette syndrome (TS) and persistent motor/vocal tic disorders are neurodevelopmental conditions characterised by the chronic presence of motor and/or vocal tics. Patients with TS often present with co-morbid disorders, especially attention-deficit and hyperactivity disorder (which tends to improve after childhood), and obsessive-compulsive disorder (which can persist in adulthood). We set out to explore pharmacotherapy for tics in adult patients with TS and persistent motor/vocal tic disorders, as well as its relationship with the presence of co-morbid conditions. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the clinical characteristics and pharmacotherapy of 192 adult patients with TS (n = 187), persistent motor tic disorder (n = 3) and persistent vocal tic disorder (n = 2) attending a specialist clinic in the UK. Results Anti-dopaminergic medications (n = 65) and alpha-2-agonists (n = 50) were the most commonly prescribed pharmacotherapy for tic management. A sub-group analysi...
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Background Tourette syndrome (TS) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by the presence of multiple motor and phonic tics, often associated with co-morbid behavioural problems. Tics can be modulated by environmental factors and... more
Background Tourette syndrome (TS) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by the presence of multiple motor and phonic tics, often associated with co-morbid behavioural problems. Tics can be modulated by environmental factors and are characteristically exacerbated by psychological stress, among other factors. This observation has led to the development of specific behavioural treatment strategies, including relaxation therapy. Objective This review aimed to assess the efficacy of relaxation therapy to control or reduce tic symptoms in patients with TS. Methods We conducted a systematic literature review of original studies on the major scientific databases, including Medline, EMBASE, and PsycInfo, according to the standards outlined in the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Outcomes measures included both tic severity and tic frequency. Results Our literature search identified three controlled trials, with a total number o...
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When musicians release a single that tops the chart, there is a mixed feeling of expectation and disillusion surrounding the appearance of their second song–that is rarely up to the standard of the...
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Motor and vocal tics have long been recognised as the core features of Tourette syndrome (TS). However, patients' first-person accounts have consistently reported that these involuntary motor manifestations have specific sensory... more
Motor and vocal tics have long been recognised as the core features of Tourette syndrome (TS). However, patients' first-person accounts have consistently reported that these involuntary motor manifestations have specific sensory correlates. These sensory symptoms are often described as feelings of mounting inner tension ("premonitory urges") and are transiently relieved by tic expression. Multimodal hypersensitivity to external stimuli, perceived as triggers and/or exacerbating factors for specific tic symptoms, is also commonly reported by patients with TS. This article focuses on the rapidly expanding literature on the clinical and neurobiological aspects of the premonitory urge and multimodal hypersensitivity in patients with TS, with particular attention to pathophysiological mechanisms and possible treatment implications. These findings suggest that TS is a neurobehavioural condition characterised by intrinsic perceptual abnormalities involving the insula and sens...
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We report the first case of a patient with severe, intractable Tourette Syndrome with comorbid Obsessive Compulsive disorder, who recovered from both disorders with gamma-knife (GK) stereotactic radiosurgery following deep brain... more
We report the first case of a patient with severe, intractable Tourette Syndrome with comorbid Obsessive Compulsive disorder, who recovered from both disorders with gamma-knife (GK) stereotactic radiosurgery following deep brain stimulation (DBS). This case highlights the possible role of the internal capsule within the neural circuitries underlying both TS and OCD, and suggests that in cases of treatment-refractory TS and comorbid OCD, bilateral anterior capsulotomy using stereotactic radiosurgery may be a viable treatment option.
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Gilles de la Tourette syndrome is a chronic and complex tic disorder accompanied by specific behavioral problems in the majority of patients. With its multifaceted interplay between motion and emotion, this condition is a paradigmatic... more
Gilles de la Tourette syndrome is a chronic and complex tic disorder accompanied by specific behavioral problems in the majority of patients. With its multifaceted interplay between motion and emotion, this condition is a paradigmatic example of the science and art of clinical neuropsychiatry. This review article encompasses the clinical phenomenology of motor and vocal tics and associated sensory experiences (premonitory urges), as well as the behavioral spectrum of the most common comorbidities, including obsessive-compulsive disorder, attention-deficit and hyperactivity disorder, affective symptoms, and impulsivity. Knowledge of the contributions of both tics and behavioral problems to patients' health-related quality of life across the lifespan should assist treating clinicians in formulating a targeted management plan. Although the exact pathophysiology of Gilles de la Tourette syndrome remains elusive, research into therapeutic interventions has expanded the range of avail...
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Hyperacusis is intolerance of certain everyday sounds that causes significant distress and impairment in social, occupational, recreational, and other day-to-day activities. The aim of this report is to summarize the key findings and... more
Hyperacusis is intolerance of certain everyday sounds that causes significant distress and impairment in social, occupational, recreational, and other day-to-day activities. The aim of this report is to summarize the key findings and conclusions from the Third International Conference on Hyperacusis. The main topics discussed comprise (1) diagnosis of hyperacusis and audiological evaluations, (2) neurobiological aspect of hyperacusis, (3) misophonia, (4) hyperacusis in autism spectrum disorder, (5) noise sensitivity, (6) hyperacusis-related distress and comorbid psychiatric illness, and (7) audiologist-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy for hyperacusis. Implications for research and clinical practice are summarised.
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Objective Since its establishment in 1987, the British Neuropsychiatry Association (BNPA) has gathered clinicians and researchers with special interest in neuropsychiatry and behavioural neurology. The association regularly invites... more
Objective Since its establishment in 1987, the British Neuropsychiatry Association (BNPA) has gathered clinicians and researchers with special interest in neuropsychiatry and behavioural neurology. The association regularly invites abstract submissions on neuropsychiatry research topics to its yearly Annual General Meeting (AGM). These spontaneous contributions mainly reflect research interests of the BNPA members and their analysis can provide an overview on the recent research trends of British neuropsychiatry. Method The author reviewed the BNPA-AGM Programmes and Abstract Books, as well as the Proceedings published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry over the last ten years (2004–2013), in order to identify the research topics of all abstracts accepted for oral or poster presentation. Results A total of 186 research abstracts were presented at BNPA-AGM over the last decade. The mean number of abstracts was 19 per year. The year with the highest number of abstracts was 2011 (n=26), whilst the year with the lowest number was 2004 (n=7). The vast majority of abstracts (n=173, 93.0%) were presented by a corresponding author based in the United Kingdom. The overall distribution of research topics in these abstracts was as follows: Tourette syndrome (n=36, 20.4%), epilepsy (n=26, 14.8%), functional neurological symptoms (n=19, 10.8%), dementias (n=11, 6.2%), acquired brain injury (n=10, 5.7%), Parkinson disease (n=9, 5.1%), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (n=8, 4.5%), Huntington disease (n=6, 3.4%), multiple sclerosis (n=5, 2.8%), attention-deficit and hyperactivity disorder (n=3, 1.7%), catatonia (n=2, 1.1%), autistic spectrum disorders (n=2, 1.1%), autoimmune limbic encephalitis (n=2, 1.1%), sleep disorders (n=2, 1.1%), plus systemic lupus erythematosus, chronic fatigue syndrome, headache and addiction (all n=1, 0.6%). Three of these abstracts focused on more than one neuropsychiatric conditions: n=2 on epilepsy and functional neurological symptoms; n=1 on epilepsy and Tourette syndrome. The remaining abstracts (n=31, 17.6%) did not focus on a particular neuropsychiatric condition: these abstracts reported investigations of neurobiological mechanisms/cognitive processes in patients with common psychiatric disorders (n=10) and healthy subjects (n=10), neuropsychiatry service evaluations (n=5), single case reports/case series (n=3) and psychometric studies on the development of scales for behavioural/cognitive symptoms (n=2). Conclusion The last decade has seen a considerable increase in the number of scientific abstracts presented at the BNPA by researchers based in UK, along with a diversification in the research topics. Specifically, in recent years there has been an increased interest in movement disorders, epilepsy and functional neurological symptoms, reflecting important advances in clinical research focusing on these neuropsychiatric conditions.
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Objective Tourette syndrome (TS) is a developmental condition characterised by tics and associated with other psychiatric diagnoses, in particular obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).... more
Objective Tourette syndrome (TS) is a developmental condition characterised by tics and associated with other psychiatric diagnoses, in particular obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Despite the availability of behavioural and surgical options, pharmacotherapy remains the most common management option for patients with TS. The possible effects of psychiatric co-morbidities upon prescribing practices in adults with TS have not been examined in the literature to date. Method We conducted a retrospective chart review of all consecutive adult patients with TS who agreed to take part in clinical research conducted at the specialist TS clinic between 2009 and 2013. Types of pharmacological agents, as well as DSM-validated diagnoses and clinician-rated measures of tic severity (Yale Global Tic Severity Scale), were examined across different patient groups defined by the presence of psychiatric co-morbidities. Results Of 162 adults with TS, 88 (54.4%) had “pure” TS, 34 (21.0%) had a co-morbid diagnosis of OCD, 26 (16.0%) had co-morbid ADHD and 14 (8.6%) had both co-morbidities. Overall, 106 patients (65.4%) were on pharmacological treatment. The presence of co-morbid ADHD or OCD was significantly associated with use of pharmacotherapy (p=.02), more strongly than total tic severity (p=.04). Although there was no significant association between co-morbidity type and pharmacological class used, serotonergic agents were most commonly prescribed in patients with TS+OCD (41.2%) and alpha-2 agonists in patients with TS+ADHD (23.1%). Conclusion The majority of adult patients attending specialist TS clinics require pharmacotherapy. The presence of co-morbid OCD and ADHD, followed by tic severity, are the main factors associated with use of pharmacotherapy and can play an important role in the choice of medication class.
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Research Interests: Psychiatry, Medicine, Biological Psychiatry, Humans, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and 8 moreAttention Deficit Disorder, Phenotype, Tourette Syndrome, Mental Health and Psychiatry Nursing, Attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity, Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, Psychology and Cognitive Sciences, and Medical and Health Sciences
Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES) are classified with other functional neurological symptoms as 'Conversion Disorder', but there are reasons to wonder whether this symptomatology constitutes a distinct entity. We reviewed... more
Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES) are classified with other functional neurological symptoms as 'Conversion Disorder', but there are reasons to wonder whether this symptomatology constitutes a distinct entity. We reviewed the literature comparing PNES with other functional neurological symptoms. We find eight studies that directly examined this question. Though all but one found significant differences-notably in presenting age, trauma history, and dissociation-they were divided on whether these differences represented an important distinction. We argue that the aetiological and mechanistic distinctions they support, particularly when bolstered by additional data, give reason to sustain a separation between these conditions.
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Motor and vocal tics are relatively common motor manifestations identified as the core features of Tourette's syndrome (TS). Although traditional descriptions have focused on objective phenomenological observations, such as anatomical... more
Motor and vocal tics are relatively common motor manifestations identified as the core features of Tourette's syndrome (TS). Although traditional descriptions have focused on objective phenomenological observations, such as anatomical location, number and frequency of tics, patients' first-person accounts have consistently reported characteristic subjective correlates. These sensory phenomena are often described as a feeling of mounting inner tension or urge to move ("premonitory urge"), which is transiently relieved by tic expression. This article reviews the existing literature on the clinical and neurobiological aspects of the premonitory urge in patients with TS, with focus on its pathophysiology and possible treatment implications.
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Several clinician, informant, and self-report instruments for tics and associated phenomena have been developed that differ in construct, comprehensiveness, and ease of administration. A Movement Disorders Society subcommittee aimed to... more
Several clinician, informant, and self-report instruments for tics and associated phenomena have been developed that differ in construct, comprehensiveness, and ease of administration. A Movement Disorders Society subcommittee aimed to rate psychometric quality of severity and screening instruments for tics and related sensory phenomena. 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. A total of 5 severity scales (Yale Global Tic Severity Scale, Tourette Syndrome Clinical Global Impression, Tourette's Disorder Scale, Shapiro Tourette syndrome Severity Scale, Premonitory Urges for Tics Scale) were "recommended," and 6 (Rush Video-Based Tic Rating Scale, Motor tic, Obsessions and compulsions, Vocal tic Evaluation Survey, Tourette Syndrome ...
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Gilles de la Tourette syndrome is a chronic neuropsychiatric disorder that can have a detrimental impact on the health-related quality of life of children with the condition. To date no patient-reported health-related quality of life... more
Gilles de la Tourette syndrome is a chronic neuropsychiatric disorder that can have a detrimental impact on the health-related quality of life of children with the condition. To date no patient-reported health-related quality of life measures have been developed for children and adolescents in the English language. This study validated the first disease-specific scale for the quantitative assessment of health-related quality of life in 118 children and adolescents with Gilles de la Tourette syndrome (C&A-GTS-QOL) following language adaptation from Italian to English in the United Kingdom. Standard statistical methods were used to test the psychometric properties of the rating scale. Principal component factor analyses led to the identification of six health-related quality of life domains (cognitive, copro-phenomena, psychological, physical, obsessive-compulsive, and activities of daily living), explaining 66.7% of the overall variance. The C&A-GTS-QOL demonstrated satisfactory scal...
Research Interests: Psychology, Cognitive Science, Cognition, Principal Component Analysis, Adolescent, and 15 moreMedicine, Comorbidity, Emotions, Activities of Daily Living, Humans, Child, Health related Quality of Life, Female, Male, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Child Neurology, Clinical Sciences, Children and Adolescents, Neurosciences, and Gilles de la Tourette
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ABSTRACTThis article reviews the rapidly growing literature on the functional anatomy and behavioral correlates of the precuneus, with special reference to imaging neuroscience studies using hamodynamic techniques. The precuneus, along... more
ABSTRACTThis article reviews the rapidly growing literature on the functional anatomy and behavioral correlates of the precuneus, with special reference to imaging neuroscience studies using hamodynamic techniques. The precuneus, along with adjacent areas within the posteromedial parietal cortex, is among the most active cortical regions according to the “default mode” of brain function during the conscious resting state, whereas it selectively deactivates in a number of pathophysiological conditions (ie, sleep, vegetative state, drug-induced anesthesia), and neuropsychiatric disorders (ie, epilepsy, Alzheimer's disease, and schizophrenia) characterized by impaired consciousness. These findings, along with the widespread connectivity pattern, suggest that the precuneus may play a central role in the neural network correlates of consciousness. Specifically, its activity seems to correlate with self-reflection processes, possibly involving mental imagery and episodic/autobiographi...
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Gilles de la Tourette syndrome (GTS) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterised by tics and co-morbid behavioural problems, affecting predominantly male patients. Tic severity typically fluctuates over time, with a consistent pattern... more
Gilles de la Tourette syndrome (GTS) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterised by tics and co-morbid behavioural problems, affecting predominantly male patients. Tic severity typically fluctuates over time, with a consistent pattern showing improvement after adolescence in a considerable proportion of patients. Both tics and behavioural co-morbidities have been shown to have the potential to affect patients' health-related quality of life (HR-QoL) in children and adults with persisting symptoms. In this study, we present the results of the first investigation of HR-QoL in patients with Gilles de la Tourette syndrome at the transition between adolescence and adulthood using a disease-specific HR-QoL measure, the Gilles de la Tourette Syndrome-Quality of Life-Children and Adolescents scale. Our results showed that patients with GTS and more severe co-morbid anxiety symptoms reported lower HR-QoL across all domains, highlighting the impact of anxiety on patient's well-bei...
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Tourette syndrome (TS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by tics, repetitive movements and vocalizations which are prompted by a sensory-cognitive premonitory urge. Complex tics include environmentally dependent social... more
Tourette syndrome (TS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by tics, repetitive movements and vocalizations which are prompted by a sensory-cognitive premonitory urge. Complex tics include environmentally dependent social behaviors such as echoing of other people's speech and actions. Recent studies have suggested that adults with TS can show differences to controls in Theory of Mind (ToM): reasoning about mental states (e.g. beliefs, emotions). In this study, twenty-five adults with uncomplicated TS (no co-morbid disorders, moderate tic severity), and twenty-five healthy age and gender matched controls were scanned with fMRI during an established ToM task. Neural activity was contrasted across ToM trials involving reasoning about false-belief, and matched trials requiring judgments about physical states rather than mental states. Contrasting task conditions uncovered differential fMRI activation in TS during ToM involving the right temporo-parietal junction (TPJ), rig...
Research Interests: Psychology, Cognition, Theory of Mind, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Adolescent, and 15 moreMedicine, Temporal Lobe, TICS, Humans, Female, Male, Middle Aged, Oxygen, Adult, Parietal Lobe, Psychiatric, Intelligence tests, Neuropsychological Tests, Psychology and Cognitive Sciences, and Medical and Health Sciences
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Tourette syndrome is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterised by the chronic presence of multiple motor tics (e.g. eye blinking, shoulder shrugging, etc.) and at least one vocal/phonic tic (e.g. grunting or sniffing). The clinical... more
Tourette syndrome is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterised by the chronic presence of multiple motor tics (e.g. eye blinking, shoulder shrugging, etc.) and at least one vocal/phonic tic (e.g. grunting or sniffing). The clinical picture of patients with Tourette syndrome is often complicated by tic-related behavioural problems and associated psychopathology. The pathophysiology of Tourette syndrome is poorly understood, however converging evidence from neuroimaging studies suggests abnormalities within the fronto-striatal pathways. The pharmacological management of the tic symptoms focuses on the dopaminergic and noradrenergic pathways and aims to improve the health-related quality of life of patients.