Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and Tourette's Syndrome

Obsessive-compulsive behavior (OCB) or full-blown obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) afflict more than 50% of patients with Tourette's syndrome (TS) and often are more debilitating than the tic disorder itself. Medications for OCD, including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), help patients with TS and OCD, particularly in combination with low-dose antipsychotic drugs, but seldom eliminate OCD entirely. Behavioral therapies are more effective as medications for the treatment of OCD. A combination of cognitive behavioral therapy and medication is the treatment of choice for most patients with TS and OCD.