Pauls DL, Cohen DJ, Kidd KK, Leckman JF.
Tourette syndrome and neuropsychiatric disorders: is there a genetic relationship?
Am J Hum Genet. 1988 Aug;43(2):206-17.
Child Study Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven CT. PMID: 3165247
"In a remarkable series of papers by Comings and Comings in the Journal, a number of claims are made that have profound implications for future research on Gilles de la Tourette syndrome (TS). Their assertions fall outside of the mainstream of the very extensive TS literature that has developed over the past 2 decades. The novelty of the conclusions and the visibility of their presentation require that the papers receive thorough discussion."
The authors go on to a full discussion of the methodological problems with Comings' work, which include:
1. Clinical referral bias.
2. Anecdotal information used in place of valid family data, and no systematic methods of collection of data.
3. No validation of modified questionnaires used on patient population.
4. No scientific basis established for assessment threshholds used.
5. No corrections for demographic differences.
6. Failure to use appropriate statistical procedures for analysis.
And, the article summarizes with:
"He {Comings} concludes that it has not escaped his attention that the reason disorders of disinhibition are so common 'is that they are (1) genetic, (2) dominant, and (3) result in disinhibition, especially of sexual activity.' Aspects of this statement are unfounded, particularly his comment concerning sexual activity. In the first six reports in the series, the authors present no data to demonstrate that individuals with TS are sexually disinhibited in a way that would result in increased frequency of the disorder. Specifically, they do not provide any family data to show that TS patients have larger than average family sizes. In fact, data presented in these papers suggest that the TS patients' sexual activity is not different from that of controls. To attach such a label to individuals who have already suffered tremendously because of their illness is at best insensitive; to do so without having any data to substantiate the claim is inexcusable."
"In summary, any one of these methodological difficulties is sufficient to weaken considerably the conclusions offered by Comings and Comings. All of them together make it impossible to accept as valid any of the results presented and raise serious concerns regarding the integrity of the peer review process for these papers."
David Comings is the owner/founder of Hope Press, the vanity press which he has used to self-publish his controverial work, including his three books:
www.hopepress.com
Here is a peer-reviewed article about his third book:
tourettenowwhat.tripod.com/GeneBomb.html
Tourette syndrome and neuropsychiatric disorders: is there a genetic relationship?
Am J Hum Genet. 1988 Aug;43(2):206-17.
Child Study Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven CT. PMID: 3165247
"In a remarkable series of papers by Comings and Comings in the Journal, a number of claims are made that have profound implications for future research on Gilles de la Tourette syndrome (TS). Their assertions fall outside of the mainstream of the very extensive TS literature that has developed over the past 2 decades. The novelty of the conclusions and the visibility of their presentation require that the papers receive thorough discussion."
The authors go on to a full discussion of the methodological problems with Comings' work, which include:
1. Clinical referral bias.
2. Anecdotal information used in place of valid family data, and no systematic methods of collection of data.
3. No validation of modified questionnaires used on patient population.
4. No scientific basis established for assessment threshholds used.
5. No corrections for demographic differences.
6. Failure to use appropriate statistical procedures for analysis.
And, the article summarizes with:
"He {Comings} concludes that it has not escaped his attention that the reason disorders of disinhibition are so common 'is that they are (1) genetic, (2) dominant, and (3) result in disinhibition, especially of sexual activity.' Aspects of this statement are unfounded, particularly his comment concerning sexual activity. In the first six reports in the series, the authors present no data to demonstrate that individuals with TS are sexually disinhibited in a way that would result in increased frequency of the disorder. Specifically, they do not provide any family data to show that TS patients have larger than average family sizes. In fact, data presented in these papers suggest that the TS patients' sexual activity is not different from that of controls. To attach such a label to individuals who have already suffered tremendously because of their illness is at best insensitive; to do so without having any data to substantiate the claim is inexcusable."
"In summary, any one of these methodological difficulties is sufficient to weaken considerably the conclusions offered by Comings and Comings. All of them together make it impossible to accept as valid any of the results presented and raise serious concerns regarding the integrity of the peer review process for these papers."
David Comings is the owner/founder of Hope Press, the vanity press which he has used to self-publish his controverial work, including his three books:
www.hopepress.com
Here is a peer-reviewed article about his third book:
tourettenowwhat.tripod.com/GeneBomb.html
