PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - C A Mathews
AU  - J Waller
AU  - D Glidden
AU  - T L Lowe
AU  - L D Herrera
AU  - C L Budman
AU  - G Erenberg
AU  - A Naarden
AU  - R D Bruun
AU  - N B Freimer
AU  - V I Reus
TI  - Self injurious behaviour in Tourette syndrome: correlates with impulsivity and impulse control
AID  - 10.1136/jnnp.2003.020693
DP  - 2004 Aug 01
TA  - Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry
PG  - 1149--1155
VI  - 75
IP  - 8
4099  - http://jnnp.bmj.com/content/75/8/1149.short
4100  - http://jnnp.bmj.com/content/75/8/1149.full
SO  - J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry2004 Aug 01; 75
AB  - Background: Self injurious behaviour (SIB), the deliberate, repetitive infliction of self harm, is present in a wide variety of neuropsychiatric disorders, including Tourette syndrome (TS). Although SIB occurs in up to 60% of individuals with TS, and can cause significant clinical impairment and distress, little is known about its aetiology. Objective: This study examined the relationship between SIB and other behavioural features that commonly co-occur with TS in nearly 300 subjects with TS participating in three genetic studies. SIB, obsessions, compulsions, tic severity, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder related impulsivity, risk taking behaviours, and rages were systematically assessed in all subjects. Methods: Using logistic regression, a best fit model was determined for both mild to moderate SIB and severe SIB. Results: Mild/moderate SIB in TS was correlated with the presence of obsessive and compulsive symptoms such as the presence of aggressive obsessions or violent or aggressive compulsions, and with the presence of obsessive−compulsive disorder and overall number of obsessions. Severe SIB in TS was correlated with variables related to affect or impulse dysregulation; in particular, with the presence of episodic rages and risk taking behaviours. Both mild/moderate and severe SIB were also correlated with tic severity. Conclusions: This study suggests that mild/moderate and severe SIB in TS may represent different phenomena, which has implications for clinical management of these symptoms.