Prenatal and perinatal risk factors for Tourette disorder.

AIMS: To identify pre- and perinatal risk factors for Tourette disorder.

METHODS

Case control study. We matched names of patients who met DSM criteria for Tourette disorder with their birth certificates. For each case five controls were selected. The controls were matched by sex, year and month of birth.

RESULTS

Univariate analysis of the 92 cases and the 460 matched controls identified 4 risk factors; one categorical variable--trimester prenatal care begun and 3 continuous variables--apgar score at 5 minutes, month prenatal began and number of prenatal visits. Logistic modeling to control for confounding produced a three variable model (apgar score at 5 minutes (OR = 1.31), number of prenatal visits (OR = .904) and fathers age (OR = .909). The model parameters were: chi 2 = 19.76; df = 3; p < .001.

CONCLUSIONS

This is an inexpensive methodology to identify potential risk factors of patients with Tourette disorder and other mental illness.