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Peer Victimization in Youth with Tourette Syndrome and Other Chronic Tic Disorders

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Abstract

Chronic tic disorders including Tourette syndrome have negative impact across multiple functional domains. We explored associations between peer victimization status and tic subtypes, premonitory urges, internalizing symptoms, explosive outbursts, and quality of life among youth with chronic tic disorders, as part of the internet-based omnibus Tourette Syndrome Impact Survey. A mixed methods design combined child self-report and parental proxy-report (i.e., parent reporting on the child) demographic and quantitative data for affected youth ages 10–17 years addressing gender, mean age, ethnicity and other socioeconomic features, and presence of tic disorders and co-occurring psychiatric disorders. Peer “Victim” versus “Non-victim” status was determined using a subset of four questions about being bullied. “Victim” status was identified for those youth who endorsed the frequency of the occurrence of being bullied in one or more of the four questions as “most of the time” or “all of the time”. Data from 211 eligible youth respondents and their parents/guardians showed 26% reporting peer victimization. Victim status was associated with greater tic frequency, complexity and severity; explosive outbursts; internalizing symptoms; and lower quality of life. Peer victimization among youth with chronic tic disorders is common and appears associated with tic morbidity, anxiety, depression, explosive outbursts, and poorer psychosocial functioning. Anticipatory guidance, specific bullying screening and prevention, and further studies are indicated in this population.

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Abbreviations

ADHD:

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

CTD:

Chronic tic disorders

MD:

Mood disorder

OCD:

Obsessive compulsive disorder

PedsQL:

Pediatric quality of life inventory

PTQ:

Parent tic questionnaire

PUTS:

Premonitory urge for tics scale

RAQ:

Rage attacks questionnaire

SCAS:

Spence children’s anxiety scale: child and parent

SMFQ:

Short mood and feelings questionnaire

TS:

Tourette syndrome

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank the national Tourette Syndrome Association, Inc. for its assistance in participant recruitment for this project; and, Ms. Joanna Witkin for her administrative assistance for preparation of this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, CHDD, Box 357920, Seattle, WA, 98195-7920, USA

    Samuel H. Zinner & Gwen M. Glew

  2. Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Brown University, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI, USA

    Christine A. Conelea

  3. Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA

    Douglas W. Woods

  4. Department of Psychiatry, Hofstra University School of Medicine, Manhasset, NY, USA

    Cathy L. Budman

Authors
  1. Samuel H. Zinner
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  2. Christine A. Conelea
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  3. Gwen M. Glew
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  4. Douglas W. Woods
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  5. Cathy L. Budman
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Correspondence to Samuel H. Zinner.

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Zinner, S.H., Conelea, C.A., Glew, G.M. et al. Peer Victimization in Youth with Tourette Syndrome and Other Chronic Tic Disorders. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev 43, 124–136 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10578-011-0249-y

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