Article
Immunology
Helena Arino, Ester Coutinho, Thomas A. Pollak, Robert Stewart
Summary: In a secondary mental health service, the positivity rate of NMDAR-IgG was low, with a positive predictive value for encephalitis around 50% in patients with chronic presentations and absence of other diagnostic criteria for encephalitis or autoimmune psychosis. Chronic neuropsychiatric problems in patients with anti-NMDAR encephalitis are not uncommon, highlighting the need for improved diagnostic and treatment strategies.
BRAIN BEHAVIOR AND IMMUNITY
(2021)
Review
Clinical Neurology
Graham Blackman, Mao Fong Lim, Thomas Pollak, Adam Al-Diwani, Mkael Symmonds, Asif Mazumder, Ben Carter, Sarosh Irani, Anthony David
Summary: Patients with isolated psychiatric syndrome and CSF NMDAR autoantibodies can potentially be distinguished from those with serum-only NMDAR autoantibodies based on clinicodemographic and investigation findings.
JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Tamara Pringsheim, Christos Ganos, Christelle Nilles, Andrea E. E. Cavanna, Donald L. L. Gilbert, Erica Greenberg, Andreas Hartmann, Tammy Hedderly, Isobel Heyman, Holan Liang, Irene Malaty, Osman Malik, Nanette Mol Debes, Kirsten Muller Vahl, Alexander Munchau, Tara Murphy, Peter Nagy, Tamsin Owen, Renata Rizzo, Liselotte Skov, Jeremy Stern, Natalia Szejko, Yulia Worbe, Davide Martino
Summary: In 2020, there was a significant increase in referrals for young people with rapid onset of severe tic-like behaviors. A working group was formed to develop clinical criteria for the diagnosis of functional tic-like behaviors (FTLBs) to aid in recognition and diagnosis by healthcare professionals.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Stephanie Cernera, Leena Pramanik, Zachary Boogaart, Jackson N. Cagle, Julieth Gomez, Katie Moore, Ka Loong Kelvin Au, Michael S. Okun, Aysegul Gunduz, Wissam Deeb
Summary: This study aimed to develop a sensor-based paradigm to detect and classify tics in Tourette syndrome. The results demonstrate that wearable sensors can capture physiological differences between tic and voluntary movements and are comparable to expert consensus. This has significant implications for individualizing and improving care for people with TS.
CLINICAL NEUROPHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Stefanie Bartha, Annet Bluschke, Tina Rawish, Kim E. R. Naumann, Paul Wendiggensen, Tobias Baeumer, Veit Roessner, Alexander Muenchau, Christian Beste
Summary: The occurrence of motor/vocal tics is the leading diagnostic criterion for tic disorders. However, extra movements are also common in healthy controls, questioning the usefulness of diagnostic criteria in clinical practice. It is not solely a surplus of movements that defines tic disorders, but rather movement characteristics and patterns.
ANNALS OF NEUROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Lina Schubert, Julius Verrel, Amelie Behm, Tobias Baeumer, Christian Beste, Alexander Muenchau
Summary: The study found that associations between urges and tics in patients with Gilles de la Tourette syndrome are complex and heterogeneous, with some individuals not showing the expected positive correlation, and even displaying negative associations. While most patients demonstrated a positive relationship between urges and tics, there were substantial inter-individual differences in these associations.
Article
Psychiatry
Kesley A. Ramsey, Alessandro S. De Nadai, Flint M. Espil, Emily Ricketts, Jordan T. Stiede, Jennifer Schild, Matthew W. Specht, Douglas W. Woods, Shannon Bennet, John T. Walkup, Susanna Chang, John Piacentini, Joseph F. McGuire
Summary: This study examined the relationship between urge intolerance and tic severity and tic-related impairment among adults with Tourette Syndrome and Persistent Tic Disorders, providing insights into potential therapeutic targets for optimizing treatment outcomes.
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHIATRY
(2022)
Article
Clinical Neurology
David Mataix-Cols, Kayoko Isomura, Gustaf Brander, Isabell Brikell, Paul Lichtenstein, Zheng Chang, Henrik Larsson, Ralf Kuja-Halkola, Kevin J. Black, Anna Sidorchuk, Lorena Fernandez de la Cruz
Summary: A Swedish study found that 20% of children with tic disorders continued to have chronic tic disorders into adulthood, with childhood psychiatric comorbidities and family history of psychiatric disorders being the strongest risk factors for tic disorder persistence.
MOVEMENT DISORDERS
(2023)
Article
Psychiatry
Joseph F. McGuire, John Piacentini, Eric A. Storch, Emily J. Ricketts, Douglas W. Woods, Alan L. Peterson, John T. Walkup, Sabine Wilhelm, Kesley Ramsey, Joey K-Y Essoe, Michael B. Himle, Adam B. Lewin, Susanna Chang, Tanya K. Murphy, James T. McCracken, Lawrence Scahill
Summary: The study found moderate to strong correlations between CGI-S ratings and YGTSS scores, with only fair agreement when applying classification benchmarks. The results provide guidance on defining tic severity categories.
JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRIC RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Alonso Zea Vera, Ernest V. Pedapati, Travis R. Larsh, Kevin Kohmescher, Makoto Miyakoshi, David A. Huddleston, Hannah S. Jackson, Donald L. Gilbert, Paul S. Horn, Steve W. Wu
Summary: This study investigated the oscillatory changes in the right frontal lobe during motor inhibition in individuals with chronic tic disorders. The findings suggest that individuals with chronic tic disorders show greater event-related desynchronization in the right superior, middle, and inferior frontal gyral, which is associated with lower tic severity.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Jason L. He, Mark Mikkelsen, David A. Huddleston, Deana Crocetti, Kim M. Cecil, Harvey S. Singer, Richard A. E. Edden, Donald L. Gilbert, Stewart H. Mostofsky, Nicolaas A. J. Puts
Summary: The study found that lower GABA levels in the supplementary motor area were associated with more severe and frequent premonitory urges in children with Tourette syndrome, but not with tic severity. This suggests that GABA neurotransmission plays a role in the experience of urges in children with Tourette syndrome.
MOVEMENT DISORDERS
(2022)
Review
Psychology, Developmental
Veit Roessner, Heike Eichele, Jeremy S. Stern, Liselotte Skov, Renata Rizzo, Nanette Mol Debes, Peter Nagy, Andrea E. Cavanna, Cristiano Termine, Christos Ganos, Alexander Muenchau, Natalia Szejko, Danielle Cath, Kirsten R. Mueller-Vahl, Cara Verdellen, Andreas Hartmann, Aribert Rothenberger, Pieter J. Hoekstra, Kerstin J. Plessen
Summary: The first European guidelines for Tourette Syndrome (TS) were published in 2011 by the European Society for the Study of Tourette Syndrome (ESSTS). The updated part on pharmacological treatment emphasizes the importance of psychoeducation and behavioral approaches as first-line treatments. Pharmacological treatment, particularly with dopamine blocking agents like aripiprazole, is indicated in some patients, especially when behavioral approaches are not effective or feasible. Treatment should be individualized based on the patient's needs, preferences, and co-existing conditions.
EUROPEAN CHILD & ADOLESCENT PSYCHIATRY
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Kantiya Jindachomthong, Chengran Yang, Yuegao Huang, Daniel Coman, Maximiliano Rapanelli, Fahmeed Hyder, Joseph Dougherty, Luciana Frick, Christopher Pittenger
Summary: An inactivating mutation in the histidine decarboxylase gene (Hdc) is identified as a rare genetic cause of Tourette syndrome (TS). Hdc knockout mice exhibit abnormal expression of genes associated with oligodendrocytes and myelin production in the dorsal striatum, suggesting abnormalities in myelination. Ex vivo diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) confirms reduced fractional anisotropy (FA) in the dorsal striatum. These findings provide insights into the developmental mechanisms underlying the abnormality in TS.
FRONTIERS IN MOLECULAR NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Irene A. Malaty, Seonaid Anderson, Shannon M. Bennett, Cathy L. Budman, Barbara J. Coffey, Keith A. Coffman, Erica Greenberg, Joseph F. McGuire, Kirsten R. Mueller-Vahl, Michael S. Okun, Julio Quezada, Amy Robichaux-Viehoever, Kevin J. Black
Summary: A global phenomenon characterized by sudden onset and rapid escalation of tics and tic-like movements and phonations has emerged in the past 3 years. It has been observed not only in youth known to have tics or Tourette syndrome, but also in those with no prior history of tics.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Review
Psychology, Developmental
Kirsten R. Mueller-Vahl, Natalia Szejko, Cara Verdellen, Veit Roessner, Pieter J. Hoekstra, Andreas Hartmann, Danielle C. Cath
Summary: The European Society for the Study of Tourette syndrome (ESSTS) has updated the first European Guidelines for Tourette syndrome, covering assessment, psychological interventions, pharmacological treatment, and deep brain stimulation. Over the past decade, there has been a significant shift towards non-pharmacological treatments in the assessment and treatment of tics.
EUROPEAN CHILD & ADOLESCENT PSYCHIATRY
(2022)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Davide Martino, Tammy Hedderly, Tara Murphy, Kirsten R. Mueller-Vahl, Russell C. Dale, Donald L. Gilbert, Renata Rizzo, Andreas Hartmann, Peter Nagy, Mathieu Anheim, Tamsin Owen, Osman Malik, Morvwen Duncan, Isobel Heyman, Holan Liang, Andrew McWilliams, Shauna O'Dwyer, Carolin Fremer, Natalia Szejko, Velda X. Han, Kasia Kozlowska, Tamara M. Pringsheim
Summary: There has been a significant increase in adolescents and young adults seeking urgent help for functional tic-like behaviors (FTLBs) between 2019 and 2022. An international collaborative group collected retrospective data to better understand this spectrum and its clinical differences from primary tic disorders. The study findings suggest that social media exposure may be a relevant contributing factor to FTLBs.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Anna Lena Fisse, Jeremias Motte, Thomas Grueter, Felix Kohle, Cornelius Kronlage, Jan-Hendrik Stahl, Natalie Winter, Tabea Seeliger, Stefan Gingele, Frauke Stascheit, Benjamin Hotter, Juliane Klehmet, Karsten Kummer, Elena K. Enax-Krumova, Dietrich Sturm, Thomas Skripuletz, Jens Schmidt, Min-Suk Yoon, Kalliopi Pitarokoili, Helmar C. Lehmann, Alexander Grimm
Summary: This study investigates the current care of patients with immune-mediated polyneuropathies in specialized centers in Germany and provides important epidemiological insights. The findings suggest that the development of specific treatment and follow-up recommendations is necessary to ensure a uniform standard of patient care.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Tabea Seeliger, Henrike Neelke Dreyer, Janna Margaretha Siemer, Lena Boenig, Stefan Gingele, Maike Franziska Dohrn, Nils Prenzler, Diana Ernst, Torsten Witte, Thomas Skripuletz
Summary: Sjogren's syndrome is a potentially treatable cause of Small Fiber Neuropathy (SFN). This study found no significant differences in symptoms and cerebrospinal fluid parameters between SFN patients with and without Sjogren's syndrome. However, SFN patients with Sjogren's syndrome had lower intraepidermal nerve fiber densities, suggesting a different pathomechanism.
JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY
(2023)
Review
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Alireza Soleimani, Sajjad Ghane Ezabadi, Nora Moehn, Zahra Moghimi Esfandabadi, Zahra Khosravizadeh, Thomas Skripuletz, Maryam Azimzadeh
Summary: Hormonal imbalance is a significant factor in the severity of multiple sclerosis (MS). Hormone therapy has shown potential in regulating the immune system and protecting nerves in experimental studies. Thyroid, melatonin, and sex hormones have been found to improve neurological impairment by regulating the immune system, providing neuroprotection, and reducing oxidative stress. Understanding hormone therapy can lead to the identification of new molecular/cellular pathways in MS.
METABOLIC BRAIN DISEASE
(2023)
Review
Clinical Neurology
Franz Felix Konen, Philipp Schwenkenbecher, Mike P. Wattjes, Thomas Skripuletz
Summary: This article reviewed and analyzed published studies comparing the use of the 2017 and 2010 McDonald criteria in terms of diagnostic performance. The results showed that the 2017 McDonald criteria diagnosed more patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and enabled earlier diagnosis compared to the 2010 revision. The improvement was achieved through adjustments in imaging criteria and the introduction of oligoclonal bands as a diagnostic criterion.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Carolin Fremer, Natalia Szejko, Anna Pisarenko, Martina Haas, Luise Laudenbach, Claudia Wegener, Kirsten R. Mueller-Vahl
Summary: Since 2019, there has been a global increase in patients exhibiting functional Tourette-like behaviors (FTB), which is believed to be caused by exposure to tic-related content on social media. This paper introduces the concept of mass social media-induced illness (MSMI) as a new type of mass sociogenic illness (MSI). The study compares clinical characteristics of patients diagnosed with MSMI-FTB and Tourette syndrome/chronic tic disorders (TS/CTD) to distinguish between the two. The main findings include a higher age at onset, a higher rate of females, a higher rate of obscene and socially inappropriate symptoms, a lower rate of comorbid ADHD, and a lower rate of OCD/OCB among patients with MSMI-FTB.
EUROPEAN ARCHIVES OF PSYCHIATRY AND CLINICAL NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Tabea Seeliger, Emelie Kramer, Franz Felix Konen, Nadine Zehrfeld, Sonja Beider, Nils Kristian Prenzler, Vega Goedecke, Torsten Witte, Thomas Skripuletz, Diana Ernst
Summary: By systematically evaluating neurological manifestations of primary Sjogren's syndrome, we found that patients with neurological involvement had different clinical characteristics compared to those without neurological involvement. Male sex, older age, hospitalization at first presentation, lower IgG levels, and higher eosinophil values were identified as independent predictors of neurological involvement in Sjogren's syndrome. These findings suggest that neurological involvement in Sjogren's syndrome has been underestimated, and intensified screening for neurologic involvement should be included in the diagnostic algorithm.
JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Psychiatry
Kirsten R. Mueller-Vahl, Anna Pisarenko, Natalia Szejko, Martina Haas, Carolin Fremer, Ewgeni Jakubovski, Richard Musil, Alexander Muenchau, Irene Neuner, Daniel Huys, Ludger Tebartz van Elst, Christoph Schroeder, Rieke Ringlstetter, Armin Koch, Eva Beate Jenz, Anika Grosshennig
Summary: Preliminary data suggest that cannabis-based medicines might be a promising new treatment for patients with Tourette syndrome (TS)/chronic tic disorders (CTD) resulting in an improvement of tics, comorbidities, and quality of life. This study aimed to examine efficacy and safety of the cannabis extract nabiximols in adults with TS/CTD. Secondary analyses revealed trends for improvements of tics, depression, and quality of life, and subgroup analyses suggested that certain subgroups may benefit better from treatment with cannabis-based medication.
PSYCHIATRY RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Psychiatry
Pritesh Jain, Tyne Miller-Fleming, Apostolia R. Topaloudi, Dongmei K. Yu, Petros Drineas, Marianthi Georgitsi, Zhiyu Yang, Renata Rizzo, Kirsten R. Mueller-Vahl, Zeynep A. Tumer, Nanette Mol Debes, Andreas S. Hartmann, Christel E. Depienne, Yulia S. Worbe, Pablo Mir, Danielle C. Cath, Dorret Boomsma, Veit Roessner, Tomasz Wolanczyk, Piotr Janik, Natalia Szejko, Cezary Zekanowski, Csaba Barta, Zsofia Nemoda, Zsanett Tarnok, Joseph D. Buxbaum, Dorothy Grice, Jeffrey Glennon, Hreinn Stefansson, Bastian Hengerer, Noa Benaroya-Milshtein, Francesco Cardona, Tammy Hedderly, Isobel Heyman, Chaim Huyser, Astrid Morer, Norbert Mueller, Alexander Munchau, Kerstin J. Plessen, Cesare Porcelli, Susanne Walitza, Anette Schrag, Davide Martino, Andrea Dietrich, Carol A. Mathews, Jeremiah M. Scharf, Pieter J. Hoekstra, Lea K. Davis, Peristera Paschou
TRANSLATIONAL PSYCHIATRY
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Nora Moehn, Susann Mahjoub, Laura Duzzi, Emily Narten, Lea Grote-Levi, Gudrun Koerner, Tabea Seeliger, Gernot Beutel, Benjamin-Alexander Bollmann, Thomas Wirth, Andre Huss, Hayrettin Tumani, Imke Grimmelmann, Ralf Gutzmer, Philipp Ivanyi, Thomas Skripuletz
Summary: Immune checkpoint inhibitors have shown great potential in treating cancer, but the occurrence of immune-related adverse events, particularly neurological events, is a concern. Currently, there are no reliable biomarkers to diagnose and predict these events.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Valerie Brandt, Jana Essing, Ewgeni Jakubovski, Kirsten Mueller-Vahl
Summary: This study investigated the presence of premonitory urges (PU) in tic disorders. The results showed a significant association between tic severity and urge severity, with 85% of urge-related tics followed by relief. ADHD, depression, female gender, and older age increased the likelihood of experiencing PU, while more obsessive-compulsive symptoms and younger age were associated with higher urge intensities. PU, complex vocal tics, ADHD, OCD, anxiety, and depression were related to lower quality of life.
MOVEMENT DISORDERS CLINICAL PRACTICE
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Rica Riechmann, Ewgeni Jakubovski, Jana Essing, Martina Haas, Christopher G. Goetz, Glenn T. Stebbins, Kirsten R. Mueller-Vahl
Summary: Researchers have made improvements to the MRVS rating scale by shortening the recording time to 5 minutes and comparing it with the YGTSS-TTS. The results show that reducing the recording time does not significantly affect the assessment results, and the revised rating method has higher correlation with the YGTSS-TTS.
MOVEMENT DISORDERS CLINICAL PRACTICE
(2023)
Review
Clinical Neurology
Antonios Bayas, Monika Christ, Simon Faissner, Juliane Klehmet, Refik Pul, Thomas Skripuletz, Sven G. Meuth, SPMS Working Group
Summary: Although the understanding of SPMS is evolving, early detection of relapse-independent progression remains difficult. The term RMS includes RRMS and SPMS with relapses, and disease-modifying therapies approved for RMS or active SPMS are used. However, there are differences in efficacy and safety evidence between drugs approved for RMS and SPMS. Clinical trials have shown that siponimod and interferon-beta 1b s.c. have significant reductions in disability progression in SPMS populations, but data on other drugs approved for RMS are limited to small subgroups and the potential to reduce relapse-independent progression is unclear.
THERAPEUTIC ADVANCES IN NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Ronja Weiblen, Carina Robert, Pauline Petereit, Marcus Heldmann, Thomas F. Muente, Alexander Muenchau, Kirsten Mueller-Vahl, Ulrike M. Kraemer
Summary: Persons with Tourette syndrome exhibit altered social behaviors, such as echophenomena and increased personal distress in emotional situations. A study was conducted to test the hypothesis of an overactive mirror neuron system in Tourette syndrome by examining echophenomena and empathy for pain in participants with Tourette syndrome and matched controls. The results showed that the Tourette syndrome group had significantly more echophenomena but no differences in empathic abilities compared to controls. Additionally, the Tourette syndrome group exhibited reduced neural differentiation between painful and neutral stimuli. This suggests that there may be altered processing of others' emotional states in Tourette syndrome, but the hypothesis of an overactive mirror neuron system could not be supported.
BRAIN COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Letter
Clinical Neurology
Kirsten R. Mueller-Vahl, Rica Riechmann, Ewgeni Jakubovski, Jana Essing, Martina Haas, Glenn T. Stebbins, Christopher G. Goetz
MOVEMENT DISORDERS CLINICAL PRACTICE
(2023)
