J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci 1996; 8:311-317
Copyright © 1996 by American Neuropsychiatric Association
Non-obscene complex socially inappropriate behavior in Tourette's syndrome
R Kurlan, C Daragjati, PG Como, MP McDermott, KS Trinidad, S Roddy, CA Brower and MM Robertson
Department of Neurology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, New York 14642, USA.
The authors surveyed 87 adolescent or adult patients with Tourette's
syndrome (TS) regarding the presence, characteristics, and functional
impact of non-obscene socially inappropriate (SI) behavior. Reported
behaviors included insulting others (22%), other SI comments (5%), and SI
actions (14%). More often, subjects described having an urge to carry out
these behaviors (30%, 26%, 22%, respectively), which they often attempted
to suppress. Non-obscene SI behavior was usually directed at a family
member or familiar person, at home or in a familiar setting. Social
difficulties commonly resulted. Non-obscene SI behavior is a common and
potentially disabling feature of TS. It is closely associated with conduct
disorder and attention deficit disorder and may represent part of a more
general dysfunction of impulse control in TS.
