A Tour of Tourette Syndrome

Tourette Syndrome is a neurobiological disorder that affects approximately 200,000 adults in the United States. Tourette's is an inheritable disease that emerges in childhood and is characterized by involuntary and repetitive motor and vocal tics. Learn more about the symptoms of Tourette syndrome, who is affected, and how the disorder is treated.

Understanding Tourette Syndrome: What is Tourette syndrome? Who is affected and what are the symptoms?

-Three per 1,000 children aged 6-17 in the U.S. are diagnosed with Tourette's - about 148,000 children.

-Males are affected three times more often than females.

-Dominant gene: 50% chance of passing from parent to child.

-Must have involuntary motor tics and at least one vocal tic.

-75% of patients have tics by age 11.

Vocal Tics:

Simple Phonic Tics:

-Sudden, meaningless sounds or noises.

-Throat clearing

-Coughing

-Spitting

-Barking

Complex Phonic Tics:

-Sudden, more meaningful utterances

-Repetitive syllables, words or phrases: "shut up" or "stop that."

-Speech atypicalities (changes in tone, accent, intensity of speech).

-Echo phenomenon (immediate repetition of one's own or another's words/phrases)

-Coprolalia - uttering socially unacceptable or obscene phrases. Coprolalia occurs in less than 15% of patients.

Motor Tics:

Simple Motor Tics:

-Sudden, brief movements

-Eye blinking

-Head jerks

-Lip pouting

-Tooth clicking

Complex Motor Tics:

-Slower, longer movements

-Throwing

-Obscene gestures (copropraxia)

-Biting

-Banging

Co-occuring Conditions:

Among children diagnosed with Tourette syndrome, 79% are also diagnosed with at least one additional mental health, behavioural, or developmental condition.

64% Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

43% Behavioral or conduct problems

40% Anxiety problems

36% Depression

33% Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

28% Developmental delay affecting the child's ability to learn

Treatment: How is Tourette syndrome treated?

-Haloperidol - Dopamine receptor blockers and depleters: used to control severe tics, but may result in weight gain and depression.

-AdderallXR -Central nervous system stimulants: help increase attention and concentration for people with ADHD.

-Clonidine - Noradrenergic drugs: may help control behavioural symptoms such as impulse control and rage attacks.

-Fluoxetine - Serotoninergic drugs: antidepressant drugs may help control symptoms of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.

Tourette Syndrome Prognosis: Is there a cure for Tourette syndrome?

55.9% Grew out of it

13.6% Diagnosed for life

7.8% Diagnosed for life with Chronic Tic Disorder

22.7% Diagnosed for life with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Famous People Rumored to Have Tourette Syndrome: David Beckham, Dan Ackroyd, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Marc Summers, Howard Hughes