Authors:
Carol A. Mathews, Jeremiah M. Scharf, Laura L. Miller, Corrie Macdonald-Wallis, Debbie A. Lawlor, Yoav Ben-Shlomo
Published in British Journal of Psychiatry
January 2014
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Tourette syndrome and chronic tic disorder are heritable but aetiologically complex. Although environment plays a role in their development, existing studies of non-genetic risk factors are inconsistent.
AIMS:
To examine the association between pre- and perinatal exposures and Tourette syndrome/chronic tic disorder in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) prospective longitudinal pre-birth cohort.
METHOD:
Relationships between exposures and Tourette syndrome/chronic tic disorder were examined in 6090 children using logistic regression.
RESULTS:
Maternal alcohol and cannabis use, inadequate maternal weight gain and parity were associated with Tourette syndrome or Tourette syndrome/chronic tic disorder. Other previously reported exposures, including birth weight and prenatal maternal smoking, were not associated with Tourette syndrome/chronic tic disorder.
CONCLUSIONS:
This study supports previously reported relationships between Tourette syndrome/chronic tic disorder and prenatal alcohol exposure, and identifies additional previously unexplored potential prenatal risk factors.
DOI: 10.1192/bjp.bp.112.125468
Citation:
Mathews CA, Scharf JM, Miller LL, Macdonald-Wallis C, Lawlor DA, Ben-Shlomo Y. Association between pre- and perinatal exposures and Tourette syndrome or chronic tic disorder in the ALSPAC cohort. Br J Psychiatry. 2014;204(1):40-45. doi:10.1192/bjp.bp.112.125468