Explosive outbursts in children with Tourette's disorder

Abstract

Objective: Sudden, explosive outbursts of behavior occur in some children with Tourette's disorder (TD). The etiology of these symptoms is unknown. This study investigated the relationship between explosive outbursts, TD, and its comorbid disorders.

Method: Tic type and severity and the presence of specific comorbid disorders were compared in 37 children with TD and explosive outbursts and 31 children with TD who did not have such symptoms.

Results: Children with TD and explosive outbursts were more likely to demonstrate significant comorbid conditions, particularly attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and oppositional defiant disorder. Tic type and severity did not appear related to the presence of explosive outbursts. A highly significant relationship was demonstrated between the number of comorbid psychiatric diagnoses and explosive outbursts.

Conclusions: Explosive outbursts in children with TD resemble intermittent explosive disorder and may reflect dysregulation of diverse domains of brain function. The presence of such symptoms should alert the clinician to underlying comorbid conditions.