Mental Health Needs Associated with Tourette Syndrome.

MENTAL health; TOURETTE syndrome in children; TIC disorders; BEHAVIORAL assessment; HUMAN abnormalities; DEVELOPMENTAL disabilities; TOURETTE syndrome; BEHAVIOR disorders in children; DIAGNOSIS

Abstract. Tourette Syndrome (TS) is an uncommon developmental disability characterized by repetitive and involuntary verbal and motor tics. A survey of all known affiliates of the Tourette Syndrome Association of Ohio was conducted. A total of 431 questionnaires was returned, and behavioral problems were found to be pervasive in Tourette people. Some 53.1 per ¢ of the sample had sough! some form of counseling for these problems, but this counseling was generally not perceived as being very helpful. Medication was not reported to ameliorate behavioral problems. When compared to a normal population sample, self-ratings of mental health status were low among Tourette persons. Problems experienced by TS persons were aggregated into a Behavioral Problem Scale. which successfully discriminated between levels of need in TS persons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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