Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-2brh9 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-22T17:10:03.578Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Clinical and attentional effects of acute nicotine treatment in Tourette’s syndrome

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 April 2020

Anne L. Howson
Affiliation:
Adult Metabolic Disease Clinic, Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver Coastal Health Authority, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Sue Batth
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Royal Ottawa Hospital and Institute of Mental Health Research, University of Ottawa, 1145 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, Ont., CanadaK1A 7K4
Vadim Ilivitsky
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Royal Ottawa Hospital and Institute of Mental Health Research, University of Ottawa, 1145 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, Ont., CanadaK1A 7K4
Armand Boisjoli
Affiliation:
Tourette Syndrome Clinic, Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, Ont., Canada
Martine Jaworski
Affiliation:
Tourette Syndrome Clinic, Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, Ont., Canada
Colleen Mahoney
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Royal Ottawa Hospital and Institute of Mental Health Research, University of Ottawa, 1145 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, Ont., CanadaK1A 7K4
Verner J. Knott*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Royal Ottawa Hospital and Institute of Mental Health Research, University of Ottawa, 1145 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, Ont., CanadaK1A 7K4
*
*Corresponding author. E-mail address: [email protected] (V.J. Knott).
Get access

Abstract

Evidence from pre-clinical infrahuman investigations, open-label clinical trials, and a single controlled trial found acute nicotine treatment potentiated up to 4 weeks neuroleptic-induced reductions of dyskinetic symptoms characterizing Tourette’s syndrome (TS). Given the attentional disturbances associated with this syndrome, and the improvements in attentional processes reported with nicotine, this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial examined the acute (4 h) and sustained (2 weeks) effects of a single dose of transdermal nicotine on clinical (i.e., tics), attentional (continuous performance task, event-related potentials, patient and parental reports) and behavioral symptoms in 23 children and adolescents with TS receiving neuroleptic treatment. In the 14 evaluable patients with complete primary efficacy data, nicotine (compared to placebo) failed to alter symptoms at 4 h but counteracted ERP-P300 signs of diminished attention seen 2 weeks following placebo treatment. Secondary efficacy measures, including patient self-reports and parental ratings, found nicotine to reduce complex tics and improve behaviors related to inattention. Additional work with intermittent dosing schedules is required to characterize optimal clinical and cognitive effects with nicotine treatment.

Type
Original article
Copyright
Copyright © 2004 European Psychiatric Association

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Achenbach, TMManual for child behaviour checklist and revised child behaviour profile. Burlington, VT: Department of Psychiatry, University of Vermont; 1983.Google Scholar
Barkley, RAAttention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: a handbook for diagnosis and treatment. New York: Guilford Press; 1990.Google Scholar
Channon, SFlynn, DRobertson, MMAttentional deficits in Gilles de la Tourette syndrome. Neuropsychiatry Neuropsychol Behav Neurol 1992;5:170–7.Google Scholar
Cohen, DJDetlor, JYoung, JGShaywitz, BAClonidine ameliorates Gilles de la Tourette syndrome. Arch Gen Psychiatry 1980;37:1350–7.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Conners, CKConners’ rating scales manual. Toronto: Multi-Health Systems Inc; 1991.Google Scholar
Devor, EJIsenberg, KENicotine and Tourette’s syndrome [letter]. J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci 1993;5:108–9.Google Scholar
Dimitsopoulos, TKurlan, RTourette’s syndrome and nicotine withdrawal [letter]. J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci 1993;5:108–9.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Drake, MEHeitter, SAPadamadan, HBogner, JEAndrews, JMWeate, SAuditory evoked potentials in Gilles de la Tourette syndrome. Clin Electroencephalogr 1992;23:19–23.Google ScholarPubMed
Dursun, SMReveley, MADifferential effects of transdermal nicotine patch on the symptoms of Tourette’s syndrome. Br J Clin Pharmacol 1995;30:1008–18.Google Scholar
Dursun, SMReveley, MAThe efficacyof a dose-escalated application of transdermal nicotine plus sulpiride in Tourette’s syndrome. Eur Psychiatry 1996;11:204–6.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dursun, SMReveley, MADifferential effects of transdermal nicotine on microstructured analyses of tics in Tourette’s syndrome: an open study. Psychol Med 1997;27:48.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Dursun, SMReveley, MABird, RStirton, FLong-lasting improvement of Tourette’s syndrome with transdermal nicotine. Lancet 1994; 344:1577.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Emerich, DFNorman, ABSanberg, PRNicotine potentiates the behavioral effects of haloperidol. Psychopharmacol Bull 1991;27: 385–90.Google ScholarPubMed
Emerich, DFZanol, MDNorman, ABMcConville, BJSanberg, PRNicotine potentiates haloperidol-induced catalepsy and locomotor hypoactivity. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 1991;38:875–80.Google ScholarPubMed
Erenberg, GCruse, RPRothner, ADTourette syndrome: an analysis of 200 pediatric and adolescent cases. Clevel Clin Q 1986;53:127–31.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Escera, CAlho, KSchröger, EWinkler, IInvoluntary attention and distractibility as evaluated with event-related brain potentials. Audiol Neuro-Otol 2000;5:151–66.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Foulds, JStapleton, JSwettenham, JBell, NMcSorley, KRussell, MAHCognitive performance effects of subcutaneous nicotine in smokers and never-smokers. Psychopharmacology 1996;127:31–8.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Jagger, JPrusoff, BACohen, DJet al.The epidemiology of Tourette’s syndrome: a pilot study. Schizophr Bull 1982;8:267–78.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Klorman, RCognitive event-related potentials in attention deficit disorder. J Learning Dis 1996;24:130–40.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Knott, VBosman, MMahoney, CTransdermal nicotine: single dose effects on mood, EEG, performance and event-related potentials. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 1993;63:253–61.Google Scholar
Leckman, JFPeterson, BSAnderson, GMet al.Pathogenesis of Tourette’s syndrome. J Clin Psychol Psychiatry 1997;38:119–42.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Leckman, JFRiddle, MAHardin, MTOrt, SISwartz, KLStevenson, Jet al.The Yale Global Tic Severity Scale: initial testing of a clinician-rated scale of tic severity. JAmAcad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 1997;28:566–73.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Leckman, JFTowbin, KEOrt, SICohen, DJClinical assessment of tic disorder severity. In: Cohen, DJBruun, RDLeckman, JFeditors. Tourette’s syndrome and tic disorders: clinical understanding and treatment. New York: Wiley; 1988. p. 6–28.Google Scholar
Le Houezec, JHalliday, RBenowitz, NLCallaway, ENaylor, HHerzig, KA low dose of subcutaneous nicotine improves information processing in non-smokers. Psychopharmacology 1994;114:628–34.Google ScholarPubMed
Levin, EDNicotinic systems and cognitive function. Psychopharma-cology 1992;108:417–31.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Levin, EDWilson, WRose, JEMcEvoy, JNicotine–haloperidol interactions and cognitive performance in schizophrenics.Neuropsy-chopharmacol 1996;15:429–36.Google Scholar
Levin, EDConners, CKSparrow, EHinton, SCErhardt, DMeck, WHet al.Nicotine effects on adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Psychopharmacology 1996;123:55–63.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
McConville, BJFogelson, MHNorman, ABKlykylo, WMManderscheid, PZParker, KWet al.Nicotine potentiation of haloperidol in reducing tic frequency in Tourette’s disorder. Am J Psychiatry 1991; 148:793–4 Correction 1991;148:1282.Google ScholarPubMed
McConville, BJSanberg, PRFogelson, MHKing, JCirino, PParker, KWet al.The effects of nicotine plus haloperidol compared to nicotine only and placebo nicotine only in reducing tic severity and frequency in Tourette’s disorder. Biol Psychiatry 1992;31:832–40.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Moss, DEManderscheid, PZKobayashi, PZMontgomery, SPEvidence for the nicotine cholinergic hypothesis of cannabinoid action within the central nervous system: extrapyramidal behaviors. In: Chesher, GConsroe, PMusty, Reditors. Marijuana: an international research report, Monograph Series No 7. Canberra, Australia: Australian Government Publishing Service; 1988. p. 359–64.Google Scholar
Moss, DEManderscheid, PZMontgomery, SPNorman, ABSan-berg, PRNicotine and cannabinoids as adjuncts to neuroleptics in the treatment of Tourette syndrome and other motor disorders. Life Sci 1989;44:1521–5.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Nestor, PGFaux, SFMcCarley, RWShenton, MESands, SFMeasurement of visual sustained attention in schizophrenia using signal detection analysis and a newly developed computerized CPT task. Schizophr Res 1990;3:329–32.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nuechterlein, KHParasuraman, RQiyuan, JVisual sustained attention: image degradation produces rapid sensitivity decrement over time. Science 1983;220:327–9.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cohen, JStatistical power analysis for the behavioral sciences. New York: New York Academic Press; 1977.Google Scholar
Pritchard, WRobinson, JEffects of nicotine on human performance. In: Snel, JLorist, Meditors. Nicotine, caffeine and social drinking: behavior and brain function. Amsterdam: Harwood Academic Press; 1998. p. 21–81.Google Scholar
Randolph, CHyde, TMGold, JMGoldberg, TEWeinberger, DRTourette’s syndrome in monozygotic twins: relationship of tic severity to neuropsychological function. Arch Neurol 1993;50:725–8.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Robertson, MMAnnotation: Gilles de la Tourette syndrome—an update. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 1994;35:597–611.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sahakian, BJJones, GLevy, RGray, JWarburton, DMThe effects of nicotine on attention, information processing, and short-term memory in patients with dementia of the Alzheimer type. Br J Psychiatry 1989;154:797–800.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sanberg, PRFogelson, HMMandersheid, PZParker, KWNorman, ABMcConville, BJNicotine gum and haloperidol in Tourette’s syndrome. Lancet 1988;12:592.Google Scholar
Sanberg, PRMcConville, BJFogelson, HMManderscheid, PZParker, KWBlythe, MMet al.Nicotine potentiates the effects of haloperidol in animals and in patients with Tourette syndrome. Biomed Pharmacother 1989;43:19–23.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sand, Pneuropsychological test performance before and after symptom removal in a child with Gilles de la Tourette syndrome. J Clin Psychol 1972;28:596–600.3.0.CO;2-Z>CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Shucard, DWBenedict, RHBTekok-Kilic, ALichter, DGSlowed reaction time during a continuous performance test in children with Tourette’s syndrome. Neuropsychology 1997;11:147–55.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Shuerholz, LJBaumgardner, TLSinger, HSReiss, ALDenckla, MBNeuropsychological status of children with Tourette’s syndrome with and without attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Neurology 1998; 46:958–65.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Shytle, RDSilver, AAPhilipp, MKet al.Transdermal nicotine for Tourette’s syndrome. Drug Dev Res 1996;35:1631–6.Google Scholar
Silver, AASanberg, PRTransdermal nicotine patch and potentiation of haloperidol in Tourette’s syndrome. Lancet 1993;342:182.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Silver, AAShytle, RDPhilipp, MKSanberg, PRTransdermal nicotine in Tourette’s syndrome. In: Clarke, PBSQuik, MThurau, KAld-kofer, Feditors. Effects of nicotine on biological systems II: advances in pharmacological sciences. Basel: Birkhauser Verlag; 1995. p. 293–9.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Silver, AAShytle, RDPhillip, MKSanberg, PRCase study: long-term potentiation of neuroleptics with transdermal nicotine in Tourette’s syndrome. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 1996;35: 1631–6.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Silver, AAShytle, RDPhilipp, MKWilkinson, BJMcConville, BSanberg, PRTransdermal nicotine and haloperidol in Tourette’s disorder: a double-blind placebo-controlled study. J Clin Psychiatry 2001;62:707–14.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Silverstein, SMComo, PGPalumbo, DRWest, LLOsborn, LMMultiple sources of attentional dysfunction in adults with Tourette syndrome: comparison with attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder. Neuropsychology 1995;9:157–64.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Strandburg, RJMarsh, JTBrown, WSAsarnow, RFHiga, JHarper, Ret al.Continuous-processing-related event-related potentials in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Biol Psychiatry 1996;40:964–80.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Van Woerkom, TCAMFortgens, CRompel-Martens, CMCVan de Wetering, BJMAuditory event-related potentials in adult patients with Gilles de la Tourette’s syndrome in the oddball paradigm. Elec-troencephalogr Clin Neurophysiol 1988;71:443–9.Google ScholarPubMed
Wechsler, DManual for the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children—Revised. NewYork: The Psychological Corporation; 1981.Google Scholar
Yeates, KBornstein, RAttention deficit disorder and neuropsycho-logical functioning in children with Tourette’s syndrome. Neuropsy-chology 1994;8:65–74.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wechsler, DManual for the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for children. New York: The Psycholological Corporation; 1993.Google Scholar
Submit a response

Comments

No Comments have been published for this article.