Prenatal Environmental Contributions to Severity in Tourette Syndrome

Although most studies regarding the etiology of Tourette syndrome (TS) have focused on genetic vulnerabilities, environmental factors might be contributory. Maternal-fetal complications, low birth weight, low Apgar scores, and increased parental age might increase tic severity or be associated with commonly comorbid disorders, e.g., obsessive-compulsive disorder, ADHD, and self-injurious behavior. These authors compiled data from 180 TS patients recruited for three genetic studies.

Tic symptoms were moderate to severe, and increased tic severity was associated with OCD, self-injurious behavior, and, less strongly, ADHD. Over 50% of subjects reported at least one prenatal complicating event, of which prenatal “drug” exposure was most prominen…