[Emotional disorders in adolescents with Tourette's syndrome and in their mothers].

AIM: To study anxiety disorders in adolescents with Tourette syndrome (TS) and in their mothers.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

Twenty-seven teenagers with TS, aged from 12 to 15 years, and their mothers were included in the main group. The control group consisted of 30 healthy adolescents and their mothers. Methods and scales for assessment of anxiety were administered.

RESULTS AND

CONCLUSION

A significantly higher level of trait and state anxiety was identified in the main group compared to the controls. In addition, mothers of children with TS were characterized by a high level of alexithymia and a significantly lower integrative level of emotional intelligence compared to the control group. Thus, the results indicate the presence of severe emotional disturbances in children with TS and in their mothers.