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Tourette's syndrome and autism: A search for common ground

Publication ,  Journal Article
Barnhill, J; Horrigan, JP
Published in: Mental Health Aspects of Developmental Disabilities
March 14, 2002

The comorbidity between autistic spectrum disorders and Tourette's syndrome (TS) raises intriguing questions about the neurobiology of both disorders. Repetitive movements, stereotypies, echophenomena, self-injurious behaviors and compulsive behaviors are common in autistic spectrum, and a subset of severe TS without autism. The appearance of this symptom in individuals with severe intellectual disabilities presents problems in differential diagnosis. This overlap also extends to treatment in which both developmental disorders respond to low doses of serotonin reuptake inhibitors and atypical antipsychotics drugs and display a narrow therapeutic index for these agents. These similarities suggest an overlapping fronto-stiatal substrate for at least some forms of autistic spectrum disorders and complex movement disorders like TS.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Mental Health Aspects of Developmental Disabilities

ISSN

1057-3291

Publication Date

March 14, 2002

Volume

5

Issue

1

Start / End Page

7 / 15

Related Subject Headings

  • Psychiatry
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Barnhill, J., & Horrigan, J. P. (2002). Tourette's syndrome and autism: A search for common ground. Mental Health Aspects of Developmental Disabilities, 5(1), 7–15.
Barnhill, J., and J. P. Horrigan. “Tourette's syndrome and autism: A search for common ground.” Mental Health Aspects of Developmental Disabilities 5, no. 1 (March 14, 2002): 7–15.
Barnhill J, Horrigan JP. Tourette's syndrome and autism: A search for common ground. Mental Health Aspects of Developmental Disabilities. 2002 Mar 14;5(1):7–15.
Barnhill, J., and J. P. Horrigan. “Tourette's syndrome and autism: A search for common ground.” Mental Health Aspects of Developmental Disabilities, vol. 5, no. 1, Mar. 2002, pp. 7–15.
Barnhill J, Horrigan JP. Tourette's syndrome and autism: A search for common ground. Mental Health Aspects of Developmental Disabilities. 2002 Mar 14;5(1):7–15.

Published In

Mental Health Aspects of Developmental Disabilities

ISSN

1057-3291

Publication Date

March 14, 2002

Volume

5

Issue

1

Start / End Page

7 / 15

Related Subject Headings

  • Psychiatry