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Tourette syndrome and rage attacks - a longitudinal and cross-sectional study
Psychopathology
|July 2, 2026
Summary
Patients with Tourette syndrome (TS) experience more rage attacks (RA) than controls. Higher ADHD scores in childhood correlate with RA in adolescence, highlighting the need for screening in TS patients with comorbidities.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Rage attacks (RA) are common in Tourette syndrome (TS), significantly impacting quality of life.
- TS is often comorbid with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
- Early-life irritability may play a role in the development of RA in TS.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the longitudinal correlation between tic severity, comorbidities, and RA in TS patients.
- To compare RA prevalence in TS patients versus a control group over time.
- To determine if baseline symptom load predicts future RA development.
Main Methods:
- A longitudinal study involving 314 TS patients (ages 5-19) at baseline and 227 at 6-year follow-up.
- Inclusion of a matched control group for comparison.
- Assessment of tic severity, ADHD, OCD, and RA using various instruments.
Main Results:
- TS patients exhibited significantly higher RA rates than controls at both baseline and follow-up.
- RA at baseline was associated with more compulsions and higher ADHD scores, though this association diminished by follow-up.
- Higher baseline ADHD scores predicted RA presence at follow-up, and tic severity was worse in patients with RA.
Conclusions:
- Tourette syndrome patients experience more rage attacks than controls.
- Comorbidities like ADHD and OCD are linked to RA presence in TS.
- Early ADHD symptom severity is a predictor of adolescent RA, emphasizing the importance of screening for RA in TS, particularly those with ADHD and OCD.
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