Background: The study examined a UK sample of 57 young people with Tourette syndrome (TS).
Aims: The purpose of this study was to consider the impact of TS on young people's Quality of Life (QoL).
Methods: The study used a mixed methods design, combining focus groups and questionnaire data. Child report questionnaires measured QoL and TS symptom severity.
Results: The results showed that the QoL of children with TS was significantly worse than that of children in a UK normative sample. Analysis of transcripts from the groups identified four main themes; 'TS can be distressing and disabling', 'struggling to fit into society's expectations of normal behaviour', 'needing to control tics' and 'TS is one part of who I am'.
Conclusions: Poorer QoL was associated with increased symptom severity in terms of tics, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder diagnosis and obsessive compulsive behaviours.