Tourette Syndrome (TS), or Tourette’s, is a type of tic disorder. Tics are involuntary repetitive movements and/or unwanted sounds. Patients with TS experience tics of different types, including motor tics (movements), vocal tics (sounds), simple tics (involve few muscle groups), and complex tics (involve several muscle groups).
TS is not considered a rare disease. While the exact incidence of Tourette Syndrome is unknown, it is estimated to affect between 1 in 10 to 1 in 1000 children. It is about 3 to 4 times more likely to affect males rather than females.
Tics are the hallmark characteristic of Tourette Syndrome. They range from mild to severe, with the latter significantly interfering with communication and daily life.
| Simple Tics | Complex Tics |
| Eye blinking | Touching or smelling objects |
| Head jerking | Repeating observed movements |
| Shoulder shrugging | Stepping in a certain pattern |
| Eye darting | Obscene gesturing |
| Nose twitching | Bending or twisting |
| Mouth movements | Hopping |
*Modified from Mayo Clinic website
| Simple Tics | Complex Tics |
| Grunting | Repeating one’s words or phrases |
| Coughing | Repeated other’s words or phrases |
| Throat clearing | Using vulgar, obscene, or swear words |
| Barking |
|
*Modified from Mayo Clinic website
While the exact cause of TS is unknown, it is a complex disorder that is likely a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Neurotransmitters, including dopamine and serotonin, might play an important role.
Currently, there is no cure for Tourette Syndrome. Current methods of treatment focus on managing the tics and minimizing their effect on patient’s daily lives. These include education, medications, environment/stress management, behavioral therapy, parent training, and treatment of comorbid conditions (e.g. ADHD and OCD). However, there is a great need for new methods of treatment, and hopefully through investigational studies and clinical trials, severe tics will become manageable.
Tourette Association of America
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention