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Reliability and validity of the Yale Global Tic Severity Scale
Eric A Storch1, Tanya K Murphy, Gary R Geffken
1Department of Pediatrics, University of Florida, Gainesville, 32610, USA. estorch@psychiatry.ufl.edu
Psychological Assessment
|January 6, 2006
Summary
The Yale Global Tic Severity Scale (YGTSS) reliably assesses Tourette syndrome (TS) in youth. This validated scale shows strong correlation with parent-reported tic severity, confirming its utility in pediatric TS evaluations.
Area of Science:
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
- Neurology
- Psychometrics
Background:
- Tourette syndrome (TS) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder.
- Accurate assessment of tic severity is crucial for diagnosis and treatment.
- The Yale Global Tic Severity Scale (YGTSS) is a commonly used instrument for evaluating TS.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the reliability and validity of the Yale Global Tic Severity Scale (YGTSS) in a pediatric population with Tourette syndrome.
- To determine the correlation of YGTSS scores with other measures of psychopathology.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 28 youth (aged 6-17 years) diagnosed with Tourette syndrome participated.
- Data collection included clinician and parent reports on tics, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) severity, internalizing/externalizing behaviors, depression, and anxiety.
- The YGTSS was administered twice by the same clinician with a 48-day interval to assess reliability.
Main Results:
- The YGTSS demonstrated good internal consistency and test-retest stability.
- YGTSS scores showed strong positive correlations with parent-rated tic severity (r = .58-.68).
- No significant correlations were found between YGTSS scores and clinician-rated OCD severity, parent-rated behavioral problems, or child-reported anxiety/depression.
Conclusions:
- The Yale Global Tic Severity Scale (YGTSS) is a reliable and valid tool for assessing tic severity in children and adolescents with Tourette syndrome.
- The findings support the use of the YGTSS as a primary outcome measure in pediatric TS research and clinical practice.
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