OCD, Tics, and Tourette Syndrome

When my son Dan’s obsessive-compulsive disorder was at its worst, he developed facial contortions, twitching throughout his body, and some noticeable tics. As if having severe OCD wasn’t frightening enough! As it turns out, tics and Tourette syndrome are not uncommon in those with OCD. Statistics vary, but approximately 50% of children with OCD have, or have had, tics and 15% of them have been diagnosed with Tourette syndrome. So what’s the connection? According to Dr. Barbara Coffey, Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Chief of the Tics and Tourette’s Clinical and Research Program at the Icahn School of Medicine, there is indeed a genetic relationship between OCD and tic disorders. In fact, if a child presents with tics or Tourette syndrome, there is a good chance he or she will have some family members who have OCD, with or without tics or Tourette syndrome. Tourette syndrome is often diagnosed alongside obsessive-compulsive disorder. Dr. Coffey talks about how treating OCD effectively can actually have a profound effect on the tic symptoms of Tourette’s. The tics typically are diminished to the extent that no additional treatment is necessary. This is good news, though not particularly surprising. Because OCD is typically anxiety driven, and anxiety appears to exacerbate tics, we would expect that treating OCD would greatly reduce tics. What is interesting to note, however, is that the recommended treatment for OCD (exposure and response prevention ...
Source: Psych Central - Category: Psychiatry Authors: Tags: Anxiety Atypical Antipsychotics Children and Teens Depression Disorders Dual Diagnosis Family General Genetics Medications Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Parenting Personal Stories Psychiatry Psychology Treatment Anxiety Dis Source Type: news