Clinical Utility of Screening for Anxiety and Depression in Children with Tourette Syndrome.

BACKGROUND

Tourette syndrome (TS) is often co-morbid with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Studies of TS, anxiety and depression have found variable results depending on study methodology and sample characteristics. Our aim was to examine the clinical utility of routine screening for anxiety and depression in children with TS.

METHODS

Using a clinic-based sample, we evaluated the proportion of children with TS meeting diagnostic criteria for ADHD, OCD, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), separation anxiety disorder (SAD), and major depressive disorder (MDD); the frequency of above average anxiety and depressive symptoms using the Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children (MASC) and the Children's Depression Inventory (CDI); and the association between diagnoses and symptom severity.

RESULTS

One hundred twenty six children were included (mean age 10.7 years). The most common comorbid disorder was ADHD (37%), followed by GAD (21%), OCD (10%), MDD (2%) and SAD (2%). On the MASC, the separation anxiety/panic subscale score was higher than all other subscale scores (p<0.0001). Clinically significant anxiety symptoms were present in 20% of the sample based on the MASC Anxiety Disorders Index, while 6% were identified as potentially clinically depressed based on the CDI Total Score. Yale Global Tic Severity Scale scores were positively correlated with total scores on the MASC (r=0.22, p=0.03) and CDI (r=0.37, p=0.0002).

CONCLUSIONS

Routine screening children with TS for anxiety is warranted given the rate of comorbidity. Screening for depression in TS will have a higher yield in adolescents, adults, and children with more severe tics.