OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE SYMPTOMS IN GILLES-DE-LA-TOURETTE-SYNDROME AND OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDER - DIFFERENCES BY DIAGNOSIS AND FAMILY HISTORY

The distribution of obsessive compulsive symptoms was compared in 16 i ndividuals with primary obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and 16 ind ividuals with Gilles de la Tourette syndrome (GTS) and associated obse ssive compulsive behaviors (OCB). The two groups showed significant di fferences in the distribution of OC symptomatology. Furthermore, those OCD probands who shared a similar symptom profile with GTS individual s all had a positive family history of OCD. All of the other OCD proba nds were isolated cases. Implications of this finding on the etiology and pathogenesis of the two disorders are discussed. (C) 1997 Wiley-Li ss, Inc.