J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci 1997; 9:267-272
Copyright © 1997 by American Neuropsychiatric Association
Impaired neuropsychological functioning in Tourette's syndrome subjects with co-occurring obsessive-compulsive and attention deficit symptoms
CM de Groot, KO Yeates, GB Baker and RA Bornstein
Tourette Laboratory, Ohio State University, Columbus 43210, USA.
This study examined neuropsychological performance by 92 children with
Tourette's syndrome (TS) grouped by the presence or absence of
obsessive-compulsive and/or attention deficit symptoms. The identified
groups did not differ with respect to age, education, age at onset of TS
symptoms, or medication use. After statistical control for complex motor
symptoms, impaired performance on measures of achievement and executive
functioning was correlated with obsessive and obsessive/attention symptoms,
but not with attention symptoms alone. The presence of both obsessive and
attention symptoms identified children with impairment across several
tasks. Clinical and functional implications are discussed.
