Background/Objectives: The co-morbidity between neurodevelopmental tics and functional tic-like behaviors (FTBs) in patients with Tourette syndrome (TS) is relatively under-investigated. The demographic and clinical characteristics of a large sample of patients with TS who presented with co-morbid FTBs (functional overlay) were assessed to raise awareness of this complex clinical presentation and to shed light on the differential diagnosis between the two conditions. Methods: We analyzed the clinical data of 63 patients (44 females, mean age 24 years, range 13–40) with pre-existing TS who (sub)acutely developed co-morbid FTBs (TS + FTBs) after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and compared them with 63 age- and gender-matched controls with TS (neurodevelopmental tics only). The diagnosis of co-morbid FTBs was validated by the European Society for the Study of Tourette Syndrome (ESSTS) criteria. Results: Complex vocal tics (p < 0.001), including coprolalia (p = 0.002), and self-injurious behaviors (p < 0.001), often as part of tic attacks (p < 0.001), were confirmed to be more commonly reported by the group of patients with TS + FTBs, who were also more likely to present with anxiety (p < 0.001) and other functional neurological symptoms (p < 0.001) compared to patients with TS. Conclusions: Patients with TS and co-morbid FTBs can pose significant diagnostic and treatment challenges. By systematically applying ESSTS criteria, we confirmed specific red flags for the diagnosis of functional overlay in patients with TS. The correct identification of this composite clinical phenotype plays a key role in preventing the misdiagnosis of treatment-resistant TS and implementing tailored treatment interventions.

Individuals with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) have an increased risk of developing psychiatric comorbidities, including eating disorders (EDs). We aimed to investigate the potential association between key disease characteristics, including psychological features, and the development of EDs in a clinical sample of adolescents with IBDs. We enrolled 52 adolescents with IBDs, 83% of whom were in clinical remission, and systematically collected additional information on disease duration, the total number of relapses, the use of steroids, and the number of hospital admissions. All participants completed a validated psychometric battery assessing psychological symptoms (Symptom Checklist-90–Revised, SCL-90-R), alexithymia (Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20, TAS-20), and ED symptomatology (Eating Disorders Inventory-3rd edition, EDI-3). About one in ten patients (9.6%) reported Eating Disorder Risk scores higher than the cut-off on the EDI-3 subscale, specifically addressing the risk of developing EDs. According to the EDI-3 scores, the risk of developing EDs directly correlated with the number of total relapses of IBDs (p < 0.05). The TAS-total scores also correlated with the number of total relapses (p < 0.01), as well as with the number of steroid cycles (p < 0.05), the number of hospital admissions (p < 0.05), and overall disease duration (p < 0.05). Our findings suggest that disease relapses increase the risk of developing both EDs and alexithymia in adolescents with IBDs. The recurrence of disease relapses should be identified and screened early on to prevent the onset of psychiatric disorders, including EDs. Research should be conducted on larger samples with different IBD phenotypes to further investigate the characteristics of patients with IBDs at risk of developing EDs.

Background: Individuals with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) have an increased risk of developing psychiatric co-morbidities, including restrictive eating disorders (REDs), with which they share common pathogenic mechanisms, including gut–brain axis dysregulation. We conducted a case–control study systematically exploring the psychopathological profiles and alexithymia in adolescents with IBDs compared with a clinical group of adolescents diagnosed with REDs in order to test the hypothesis of common psychological characteristics between the two patient populations. Methods: We recruited 76 patients with IBDs and 76 age-matched controls with REDs (64 adolescents with anorexia nervosa and 12 adolescents with avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder). All participants completed a validated psychometric battery assessing psychological symptoms (SCL-90-R), ED features (EDI-3), and alexithymia (TAS-20). Comprehensive socio-demographic and clinical data were extracted from the medical records. Results: A total of 12 patients with IBDs (15.8%) scored higher than the cut-off (>70th percentile) on the EDI-3 scale for Eating Disorder Risk (EDI-EDRC), with a psychological profile comparable to RED patients. Female gender (OR = 0.133, p = 0.020) and longer disease duration (OR = 1.055, p = 0.036) were identified as significant risk factors for the development of EDs. Conclusions: Our findings suggest common psychological traits between patients with REDs and patients with IBDs at risk of developing EDs during adolescence, highlighting the need for early screening for EDs in patients with IBDs who present with specific socio-demographic and disease characteristics.

Introduction: Little is known about thepsychological correlates of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) in the pediatric population. We, therefore, conducted a case-control study systematically exploring psychopathological profiles and alexithymia in adolescents with IBDs. Methods: We recruited 52 patients with IBDs (of whom 43 in clinical remission) and 52 age- and gender-matched healthy controls. All participants completed a validated psychometric battery assessing psychological symptoms Symptom Checklist-90-Revised and alexithymia Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20. Results: Adolescents with IBDs reported significantly higher scores across all psychopathological domains compared to controls, with more pronounced differences in depression and obsessive-compulsive symptoms (both P < 0.001). However, there were no significant differences in alexithymia scores between the two groups. Conclusion: These findings underscore the psychological distress experienced by adolescents with IBDs, emphasizing the importance of early identification and intervention to prevent the development of fully fledged psychiatric disorders. Further research is needed to better characterize the psychopathological profiles of different clinical phenotypes of IBDs and to explore possible correlations with the clinical course of these chronic conditions.

Background: Myopia has been reported as a rare adverse effect of aripiprazole, a third-generation antidopaminergic medication used for the treatment of different neuropsychiatric conditions, including psychotic disorders, affective disorders, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Case description: We document the rare case of a 29-year-old woman diagnosed with a neurodevelopmental tic disorder (Tourette syndrome) who developed bilateral myopia while taking aripiprazole 15 mg daily as a first-line anti-tic agent. Her myopia completely regressed following a decrease in the dose of aripiprazole from 15 mg to 10 mg daily. Discussion: To date, a total of 11 cases presenting with aripiprazole-induced reversible myopia (9 females, age range 19–34 years) have been reported. In addition to broadening the spectrum of the treated conditions, our case report raises the possibility of dose-dependent mechanisms underlying the development of myopia, at least in selected cases.