Nilles Christelle, Worbe Yulia, Hartmann Andreas, Martino Davide, Fletcher Julian, Serari Naoual, Deans Catherine, Davenport Isabella, Roze Emmanuel, Pringsheim Tamara
Department of Neurology, Hôpital Fondation Rothschild, Paris, France.
Centre de Référence National Maladie Rare 'Syndrome Gilles de la Tourette', Hôpital de la Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France.
Eur J Neurol. 2025 Jul;32(7):e70252. doi: 10.1111/ene.70252.
This study investigated the phenomenology of tics in adults with primary tic disorders (Tourette syndrome, persistent motor or phonic tic disorders) and how these features are influenced by sex. It also examined the prevalence of comorbid psychiatric conditions and psychotropic medication use.
A cross-sectional study was conducted on 227 adults with primary tic disorders from the Calgary and Paris Adult Tic Registry. Data collected included demographics, tic characteristics (using the Yale Global Tic Severity Scale), psychiatric comorbidities, and medication use. Statistical analyses were performed to compare data between sexes.
The sex ratio was 1.8 males to 1 female. The most common motor tics were simple (eye blinking, simple head movements), and the most common phonic tic was throat clearing. There were no significant sex differences in tic phenomenology or severity. Generalized anxiety disorder (49.5%) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) (35.8%) were the most common comorbidities. A lower proportion of women were diagnosed with ADHD, while a higher proportion were diagnosed with obsessive compulsive disorder.
The male predominance of tic disorders is less marked in adulthood compared to childhood. Tic phenomenology and severity do not significantly differ between sexes. These findings provide valuable insights into the clinical presentation of tic disorders in adults. Future research will explore severity of comorbid mental health conditions, how these influence tic severity, treatment outcomes and quality of life.
本研究调查了患有原发性抽动障碍（抽动秽语综合征、持续性运动或发声抽动障碍）的成年人抽动的现象学，以及这些特征如何受到性别的影响。它还研究了共病精神疾病的患病率和精神药物的使用情况。
对来自卡尔加里和巴黎成人抽动登记处的227名患有原发性抽动障碍的成年人进行了一项横断面研究。收集的数据包括人口统计学信息、抽动特征（使用耶鲁全球抽动严重程度量表）、共病精神疾病和药物使用情况。进行了统计分析以比较两性之间的数据。
男女比例为1.8:1。最常见的运动性抽动是简单的（眨眼、简单的头部运动），最常见的发声性抽动是清嗓子。在抽动现象学或严重程度方面没有显著的性别差异。广泛性焦虑障碍（49.5%）和注意力缺陷多动障碍（ADHD）（35.8%）是最常见的共病。被诊断患有ADHD的女性比例较低，而被诊断患有强迫症的女性比例较高。
与儿童期相比，抽动障碍在成年期的男性优势不太明显。抽动现象学和严重程度在两性之间没有显著差异。这些发现为成人抽动障碍的临床表现提供了有价值的见解。未来的研究将探讨共病心理健康状况的严重程度、这些状况如何影响抽动严重程度、治疗结果和生活质量。
