Tourette's syndrome and autism: A search for common ground
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
ISSN
Publication Date
Volume
Issue
Start / End Page
Related Subject Headings
- Psychiatry
Citation
Published In
ISSN
Publication Date
Volume
Issue
Start / End Page
Related Subject Headings
- Psychiatry