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Somatic complaints in childhood tic disorders
M S Frank1, K G Sieg, G R Gaffney
1Neuropsychiatric Movement Disorders Clinic, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City.
Psychosomatics
|January 1, 1991
Summary
Children with chronic tic disorders, including Gilles de la Tourette syndrome, experience more unexplained physical complaints than healthy peers. Medication did not significantly impact these somatic complaints in tic disorder patients.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurology
- Child Psychiatry
- Psychosomatic Medicine
Background:
- Chronic tic disorders, such as Gilles de la Tourette syndrome, are often associated with various comorbidities.
- Unexplained physical complaints (somatic complaints) are frequently reported in pediatric populations, but their specific association with tic disorders requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence of unexplained physical complaints in children with chronic tic disorders.
- To compare the frequency of somatic complaints in children with tic disorders to normal controls and a mixed psychiatric clinic group.
- To examine the effect of medication on somatic complaints and the correlation between somatic complaints and psychological/neurological factors in tic disorder patients.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 26 children with chronic tic disorders (18 with Gilles de la Tourette syndrome, 8 with chronic motor tic disorder) was assessed.
- Somatic complaints were compared between the tic disorder group, normal controls, and a mixed psychiatric clinic group.
- The impact of medication on somatic complaints was evaluated, and correlations with anxiety, dysphoria, and movement disorder severity were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Children with chronic tic disorders exhibited a significantly higher frequency of somatic complaints compared to normal controls.
- The prevalence of somatic complaints in the tic disorder group was comparable to that observed in a mixed psychiatric clinic group.
- Medication administration did not yield a significant reduction in somatic complaints for patients within the tic disorder or psychiatric clinic groups.
- No significant correlation was identified between the elevated somatic complaints and the severity of anxiety, dysphoria, or movement disorders within the tic disorder cohort.
Conclusions:
- Children diagnosed with chronic tic disorders, including Gilles de la Tourette syndrome, present with an excess of unexplained physical complaints.
- These somatic complaints appear to be a common feature, irrespective of medication, and are not significantly correlated with anxiety, dysphoria, or tic severity.
- Further research is warranted to understand the underlying mechanisms and potential interventions for somatic complaints in pediatric tic disorders.