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Tourette syndrome: issues in diagnosis.
Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews
|January 1, 1992
Summary
Tourette syndrome (TS) patients experience a significant diagnostic delay, averaging 7.8 years from symptom onset to medical diagnosis. Many patients are initially misdiagnosed, highlighting challenges in recognizing Tourette syndrome.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Clinical Neurology
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Tourette syndrome (TS) is a complex neuropsychiatric disorder.
- Early diagnosis and intervention are crucial for managing TS symptoms and associated conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the delay between symptom onset and medical diagnosis in Canadian Tourette syndrome patients.
- To identify factors contributing to diagnostic delays and misdiagnoses in TS.
- To explore the initial sources of information about TS for affected individuals.
Main Methods:
- A self-report questionnaire was administered to 462 Canadian patients diagnosed with Tourette syndrome.
- Data collected included age of symptom onset, age of diagnosis, and prior misdiagnoses.
- Patient-reported information sources regarding TS were also gathered.
Main Results:
- The mean age of TS onset was 7.4 years, with a mean age of diagnosis of 15.2 years, resulting in an average diagnostic delay of 7.8 years.
- A significant majority (73%) of patients reported experiencing an initial misdiagnosis by physicians.
- Only 33% of patients received their initial information about TS from medical professionals.
- Common prior misdiagnoses included Attention Deficit Disorder, Hyperactivity, and Minimal Brain Dysfunction.
Conclusions:
- There is a substantial delay in the physician diagnosis of Tourette syndrome, impacting patient care.
- Misdiagnosis is prevalent, suggesting a need for improved physician education and awareness of TS.
- Patients often seek information about TS from sources other than their physicians, indicating a gap in physician-patient communication and education.