A Measure of Functional Impairment in Youth with Tourette’s Syndrome

Objective Tourette’s Syndrome (TS) during childhood is linked to varied behavioral and psychological difficulties and functional impairment. The current study was undertaken to examine both tic-related impairment and impairment from other psychological problems in 59 youth (mean age 11.4 years, 69 % male) with TS. Methods Caretakers completed a checklist about the impact of tics and other psychological difficulties on family, school, and social functioning. In addition, a clinician administered a measure of tic severity to families. Results Over half of the sample reported one significant problem area due to the presence of tics, with over a third reporting two or more problem areas. Problems were heterogeneous in nature, with no report of a particular problem area in more than 25 % of the children. The rate of nontic-related impairment was very high, with 70 % of parents reporting at least one problem area. Conclusions Treating both tic and nontic-related impairments concurrently may improve functioning more so than treating the symptoms separately. Key words assessment; children; impairment; Tourette’s syndrome; validity