Tourette syndrome research highlights from 2016

Abstract

This article presents highlights chosen from research that appeared during 2016 on Tourette syndrome and other tic disorders. Selected articles felt to represent meaningful advances in the field are briefly summarized.

Tourette Syndrome: A Mini-Review

“…Black ( 9 ) reports that research on TS is beginning to grow from case series and small pilot studies into finding new avenues through large-scale collaborative projects. Nevertheless, these projects should solve the following TS issues highlighted by Hollis et al ( 26 ): accessing specialist care and behavioral interventions, delay in diagnosis, importance of anxiety and emotional symptoms, lack of provision of information to schools, and inadequate information regarding medication and adverse effects.…”

“…The most interesting hypothesis assumes that the underlying TS is a developmental disorder leading to dopaminergic hyperinnervation of the striatum. Anatomical and functional links between the basal ganglia and the limbic system can explain the current occurrence of tics and complex behavioral problems in TS ( 9 , 10 ). It was proved that basal ganglia, particularly the caudatus nucleus and ventral striatolimbic complex played a significant role in the pathogenesis of OCD and primitive reproductive behavior ( 11 ).…”

“…It is characterized by a highly effective treatment of tic disorders with a much lower incidence of sedation and metabolic side effects compared to classical antipsychotics. As the first results show, a promising candidate for TS treatment could be cannabis or affect the cannabinoid system ( 2 , 9 , 22 ).…”