The genetics of obsessive compulsive disorder and Gilles de la Tourette's syndrome

This article reviews the evidence that obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and Gilles de la Tourette's syndrome (GTS) are both familial and genetic. Studies are summarized that suggest that (1) some forms of OCD are related to GTS, (2) some forms of OCD are familial and may not be related to GTS, and (3) the patterns of inheritance of GTS and OCD within the same families are consistent with the transmission of an autosomal dominant genetic locus.