PARTIAL TRISOMY 16P IN AN ADOLESCENT WITH AUTISTIC DISORDER AND TOURETTES-SYNDROME

A partial trisomy 16p was identified in a 14-year-old male adolescent with autistic disorder. He additionally showed complex motor and vocal phenomena, including some simple tics which had first appeared in chi ldhood. Whereas these simple ties were of subclinical significance, an additional diagnosis of Tourette's syndrome (TS) appears justified. T he case report illustrates the diagnostic difficulties in assessing ps ychiatric symptomatology associated with both disorders, especially co mplex motor and vocal phenomena. The cytogenetic finding is discussed critically in the light of other chromosome abnormalities reported in both TS and autistic disorder. Chromosome 16p should be considered as a candidate region especially for autistic disorder. (C) 1994 Wiley-Li ss, Inc.