Publications by authors named "Yulia Worbe"

Background: Cervical dystonia is characterized by abnormal neck and head movements, possibly related to a dysfunction of the interstitial nucleus of Cajal (INC) and the head neural integrator, a system responsible for the control of head and eye movements. However, neuroanatomical evidence of alterations in the head neural integrator in cervical dystonia is sparse.

Objectives: We investigated structural and functional integrity of the INC and its connections in cervical dystonia.

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Introduction: This study investigated the phenomenology of tics in adults with primary tic disorders (Tourette syndrome, persistent motor or phonic tic disorders) and how these features are influenced by sex. It also examined the prevalence of comorbid psychiatric conditions and psychotropic medication use.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 227 adults with primary tic disorders from the Calgary and Paris Adult Tic Registry.

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Continuous electroencephalographic (EEG) monitoring has become a standard of care in several contexts in the intensive care unit (ICU), especially for the management of refractory status epilepticus. ICU patients often present movement disorders that may be of epileptic or nonepileptic origin, and their correct identification is crucial for the diagnostic and therapeutic process. Video analysis is often insufficient to precisely detect or characterize movement disorders and the ICU environment is prone to many artifacts.

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Psychiatric symptoms are common in neurodevelopmental movement disorders, including some types of dystonia. However, research has mainly focused on motor manifestations and underlying circuits. Myoclonus-dystonia is a rare and homogeneous neurodevelopmental condition serving as an illustrative paradigm of childhood-onset dystonias, associated with psychiatric symptoms.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study explores myoclonus dystonia caused by a variant in the SGCE gene, focusing on the microarchitectural brain abnormalities linked to this rare condition.
  • Researchers compared the brain structures of 18 MYC/DYT-SGCE patients with 24 healthy volunteers using advanced imaging techniques to assess neurite organization.
  • Results indicate that patients exhibited changes in cerebellar structure, with specific alterations correlating to the severity of dystonia, while no links were found between myoclonus severity and the microarchitectural measurements.
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Background: A significant proportion of people with clozapine-treated schizophrenia develop 'checking' compulsions, a phenomenon yet to be understood.

Aims: To use habit formation models developed in cognitive neuroscience to investigate the dynamic interplay between psychosis, clozapine dose and obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS).

Method: Using the anonymised electronic records of a cohort of clozapine-treated patients, including longitudinal assessments of OCS and psychosis, we performed longitudinal multi-level mediation and multi-level moderation analyses to explore associations of psychosis with obsessiveness and excessive checking.

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  • This study investigates the non-motor aspects of myoclonus dystonia, focusing on the sense of agency, which is how individuals perceive control over their actions, and how disruptions in this sense can affect movement disorders.* -
  • The research compared 19 patients with myoclonus dystonia (stemming from a specific genetic variant) to 24 healthy participants, revealing that the patients had a significant impairment in their explicit sense of agency, while their implicit sense remained unaffected.* -
  • Neuroimaging analyses showed structural and functional abnormalities in the cerebellum and its connectivity with the pre-supplementary motor area, suggesting these brain regions play a crucial role in the altered sense of agency in patients with my
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Background: Monoallelic pathogenic variants of often result in paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia (PKD). Little is known about health-related quality of life (HrQoL), non-motor manifestations, self-esteem, and stigma in patients with PKD.

Objectives: We investigated non-motor symptoms and how they related to HrQoL in a genetically homogeneous group of -PKD patients.

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  • The article mentioned has been corrected to address previous errors identified in its content.
  • The correction enhances the accuracy of the information for readers and researchers relying on the data.
  • The DOI provided (10.5334/tohm.464) allows access to the updated and accurate version of the article.
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Background: Reliably applied criteria to differentiate functional from primary tics are lacking. In the absence of biological markers, the development of new diagnostic criteria to assist clinicians is predicated on expert judgement and consensus. This study examines the level of diagnostic agreement of experts in tic disorders using video footage and clinical descriptions.

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Background: Cervical dystonia (CD) is a form of isolated focal dystonia typically associated to abnormal head, neck, and shoulder movements and postures. The complexity of the clinical presentation limits the investigation of its pathophysiological mechanisms, and the neural networks associated to specific motor manifestations are still the object of debate.

Objectives: We investigated the morphometric properties of white matter fibers in CD and explored the networks associated with motor symptoms, while regressing out nonmotor scores.

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Tourette Syndrome (TS) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by vocal and motor tics lasting more than a year. It is highly polygenic in nature with both rare and common previously associated variants. Epidemiological studies have shown TS to be correlated with other phenotypes, but large-scale phenome wide analyses in biobank level data have not been performed to date.

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Article Synopsis
  • Tourette syndrome (TS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that typically begins in childhood, characterized by persistent motor and vocal tics lasting over a year.
  • A genome-wide meta-analysis was conducted with a total of 6,133 TS individuals and 13,565 controls, revealing a significant genetic locus on chromosome 5q15 linked to the NR2F1 gene.
  • The study found connections between genetic markers and brain tissue, particularly implicating brain volume differences in areas such as the thalamus and putamen, paving the way for further research into TS neurobiology.
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  • - From 2020, there has been a notable rise in young individuals referred for severe tic-like behaviors, prompting health professionals to create diagnostic criteria for Functional Tic-like Behaviors (FTLBs) to aid various specialists in accurate identification and treatment.
  • - A consensus was reached among experts through a Delphi survey process, resulting in three major diagnostic criteria and two minor criteria for diagnosing FTLBs, with a definite diagnosis requiring all major criteria, and a probable diagnosis needing two major and one minor criterion.
  • - It is crucial to differentiate FTLBs from primary tics because they require different treatment approaches, though the proposed diagnostic criteria from the ESSTS lack thorough testing to confirm their effectiveness.
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  • Tourette syndrome primarily affects children and adolescents, yet its impact on their daily lives has not been thoroughly researched.
  • A study involving 62 adolescents analyzed their experiences at school, home, and socially, focusing on which aspects of Tourette syndrome presented the most challenges and their future outlook.
  • Key findings indicated that tic severity worsened school challenges, comorbidities impacted social interactions, and younger patients expressed more negative feelings about their futures, with social stigma being a recurring theme.
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Tourette syndrome is a chronic neurodevelopmental disorder characterised by motor and phonic tics that can substantially diminish the quality of life of affected individuals. Evaluating and treating Tourette syndrome is complex, in part due to the heterogeneity of symptoms and comorbidities between individuals. The underlying pathophysiology of Tourette syndrome is not fully understood, but recent research in the past 5 years has brought new insights into the genetic variations and the alterations in neurophysiology and brain networks contributing to its pathogenesis.

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  • * Researchers used tractography to analyze brain connectivity in 58 TS patients compared to 35 healthy controls, revealing heightened connectivity in specific limbic areas, particularly the left medial subthalamic region.
  • * The study found that abnormal connectivity with the insular cortex is linked to increased impulsivity and anxiety in TS patients, suggesting that these neurobiological factors contribute to the disorder's psychiatric symptoms.
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Tourette syndrome (TS) is characterized by multiple motor and vocal tics, and high-comorbidity rates with other neuropsychiatric disorders. Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), major depressive disorder (MDD), and anxiety disorders (AXDs) are among the most prevalent TS comorbidities. To date, studies on TS brain structure and function have been limited in size with efforts mostly fragmented.

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  • Tourette syndrome (TS) and its common comorbidities may lead to a greater likelihood of engaging in risky behaviors, but it’s uncertain if this translates into an overall greater attitude towards risk.
  • A study involving 54 TS individuals and 32 healthy controls examined decision-making under risk and ambiguity, revealing that TS alone did not show specific risk-taking behavior or a connection with medication or tic severity.
  • The presence of comorbidities, particularly obsessive-compulsive disorder and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, affected decision-making, suggesting that factors other than TS itself may contribute to risky behavior in real-life situations.
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Background: Obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS) are commonly associated with clozapine treatment but are frequently overlooked by clinicians despite their potential impact on patients' quality of life. In this study, we explored whether OCS severity impacted subjective wellbeing and general functioning, independently of depressive and psychotic symptoms.

Methods: We used anonymised electronic healthcare records from a large cohort of patients who were treated with clozapine and assessed annually for OCS, wellbeing, general functioning, and psychopathology using standardised scales as part of routine clinical practice.

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  • Tourette disorder (TD) involves involuntary tics and challenges with inhibitory control, but traditional assessment methods may not accurately capture these deficits due to flawed assumptions in the race model used to measure stopping ability.
  • *Recent research suggests that new metrics can better differentiate between proactive (pre-planned) and reactive (impulsive) inhibitory control in individuals with TD compared to healthy controls.
  • *Findings show that adults with TD struggle with reactive control, specifically in delaying movement preparations, but are able to effectively manage proactive control, allowing them to postpone actions when needed.
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