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Co-existence of tic disorders and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder-recent advances in understanding and treatment

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Abstract

In daily clinical practice of child psychiatry tic disorders (TD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as well as their co-existence are common and need careful evidence-based approaches in differential diagnostics and treatment choice. Hence, their relationship at different levels (e.g., psychopathology, neuropsychology, neurobiology, treatment) needs to be elucidated in more detail. The articles of this supplement deal with this subject. It is unclear if TD + ADHD represents an own clinical entity and which component (TD vs. ADHD) is most important in case of co-existence with respect to accompanying problems like emotional or cognitive disturbances. This editorial gives a short overview of the essential research topics concerning TD + ADHD and shows where (in this ECAP supplement and other literature) empirically based answers can be found. Probably, the identification of separate or common “endophenotypes” for TD-only, ADHD-only and for TD + ADHD would help to sort out the complexities and this supplement may nurture such a perspective of future research for a better understanding and treatment of youths with TD + ADHD and their families.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Goettingen, 37075, Goettingen, Germany

    Aribert Rothenberger, Veit Roessner & Tobias Banaschewski

  2. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, ZI-Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany

    Tobias Banaschewski

  3. Child Study Center, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA

    James F. Leckman

Authors
  1. Aribert Rothenberger
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  2. Veit Roessner
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  3. Tobias Banaschewski
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  4. James F. Leckman
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Correspondence to Aribert Rothenberger.

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Disclosure: The print of this supplement was financially supported by Janssen-Cilag, Germany.

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Rothenberger, A., Roessner, V., Banaschewski, T. et al. Co-existence of tic disorders and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder-recent advances in understanding and treatment. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 16 (Suppl 1), 1–4 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-007-1001-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-007-1001-9

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