Influence of Stress and Psychiatric Symptoms on Children With Tourette Syndrome
Condition: Tourette Syndrome in Adolescence; Tourette Syndrome; Tourette Syndrome in Children
MeSH terms: Tourette Syndrome; Syndrome
Study type: Observational

Summary: 
      Investigators propose a cross-sectional, observational pilot study to examine the
      contribution of stress, family dynamics, and peer relationships to quality of life (QOL) in
      adolescents with Tourette syndrome (TS). Investigators will recruit two groups of
      participants: 1) adolescents aged 13-17 years of age with TS and 2) adolescents aged 13-17
      without any neurologic or psychiatric diagnoses. Participants and one of their
      parents/caregivers will complete a series of questionnaires screening for and quantifying the
      extent of stress and mental health symptoms, including anxiety, depression, obsessive
      compulsive disorder (OCD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Participants will
      also complete instruments characterizing family interactions and peer relationships.
      Adolescents with TS will also undergo a semi-structured interview assessing the severity of
      their tics.
    

Detailed description: 
      Tourette syndrome (TS) is a multi-faceted neurodevelopmental disorder with wide-ranging
      impact on adolescent quality of life (QOL). Comorbid psychiatric and psychological factors
      exert greater influence on QOL than tics in TS, but the specific role of stress, family
      dynamics, and peer relationships has been largely overlooked, despite the fact that these
      factors are known to impact QOL in those with chronic disease. Investigators propose a
      cross-sectional, observational pilot study to examine the contribution of stress, family
      dynamics, and peer relationships to QOL in adolescents with TS. The primary goal of this
      study is to collect sufficient data for hypothesis-generation and power analysis refinement
      in planning of a larger scale study.

      Investigators will recruit adolescents aged 13-17 years of age with TS presenting for regular
      care at the Vanderbilt Pediatric Neurology Clinic. Adolescents without any neurologic or
      psychiatric diagnoses will be recruited as a control population. Participants and one of
      their parents/caregivers will complete a series of questionnaires screening for and
      quantifying the extent of stress and mental health symptoms, including anxiety, depression,
      obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
      Participants will also complete instruments characterizing family interactions and peer
      relationships. The scale battery can be completed by the adolescent and caregiver in parallel
      and is anticipated to take 60-75 minutes total to complete. Adolescents with TS will also
      undergo a semi-structured interview assessing the severity of their tics. The study plans to
      enroll subjects over a 12-month time frame.
    

Observational model: Cohort
Time perspective: Cross-Sectional
Sampling method: Non-Probability Sample
Study population: 
        The patient study population consists of adolescents aged 13-17 years of age with Tourette
        syndrome presenting for routine clinical care, as well as the adolescents' caregivers. The
        control study population consists of adolescents aged 13-17 years of age without tics, as
        well as the adolescents' caregivers.
      
Keywords: Stress; Self-esteem; Quality of life