2. What is Tourette
syndrome?
A disorder characterized by recurring
and involuntary movements or sounds
called tics.
There are two types of tics: motor and
vocal. Motor tics are uncontrolled body
movements and vocal tics are outbursts
of sound.
In 1886, a French physician named
Gilles de la Tourrete discovered Tourette
syndrome.
3. Other Names
TS
Tourette's
syndrome
Gilles de la
Tourette's
Syndrome
(GTS)
4. Mode of Inheritance
Scientists believe that tics may result from
changes in brain chemicals called
neurotransmitters that are responsible for
producing and controlling voluntary movements.
Mutations involving the SLITRK1 gene on
chromosome 13 have been identified in a small
number of people with Tourette syndrome.
Mutations have been reported in so few people
with this condition that the association of the
SLITRK1 gene has not been confirmed.
Tourette’s may not even be a hereditary condition.
5. May Also Cause
Deficit hyperactivity
disorder (ADHD)
Obsessive-
compulsive disorder
(OCD)
Anxiety
Depression
Mood swings
Sleep problems
6. Rate of Incidence
Precise incidence is
unsure, but it
approximately
affects 1 to 10 in
1,000 children.
It affects populations
and ethnic groups
globally.
More common in
males than in
females.
7. Symptoms
Tics can be simple or complex.
Symptoms of simple motor tics: eye
blinking, facial expressions expressing
disgust, shoulder shrugging, and head jerking.
Symptoms of simple vocal tics: repetitive throat-
clearing, sniffing, or grunting sounds.
Symptoms of complex motor tics: facial grimacing
preceded by head jerking and a shoulder
shrug, sniffing or touching
objects, jumping, bending, twisting, and punching a
person’s face.
Symptoms of complex vocal tics: coprolalia
(saying profane words) and echolalia (repetition of
words or phrases of other people).
8.
9. Progression
Tics usually appear in childhood.
Experience peak tic severity before
the mid-teen years with improvement
in the late teen years and early
adulthood.
Disorder is generally lifelong.
Not life threatening; normal life
expectancy.
10. Treatment
Most people do not need medication for tic
suppression.
If the person is suffering from severe
TS, there are medications to help such as
Neuroleptics (used to treat psychotic and
non-psychotic disorders). i.e. blocks
receptors such as dopamine.
Other medications such as clonidine and
guanfacine (used for treating
hypertension).
There is no medication that will eradicate
all the symptoms.
11.
12. Detection
Diagnosis is made after verifying that the
patient has had both motor and vocal tics for
at least 1 year.
Existence of other neurological or psychiatric
conditions can also help doctors arrive at a
diagnosis.
There are no blood, laboratory, or imaging
tests needed for diagnosis.
In rare cases, magnetic resonance imaging
(MRI), computerized tomography (CT), and
certain blood tests may be used to rule out
other conditions that might be confused with
TS.
13. Bibliography/References
"Tourette Syndrome Fact Sheet." : National Institute
of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). Web.
19 Apr. 2012.
<http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/tourette/detail_to
urette.htm>.
"MedicineNet.com." MedicineNet. Web. 19 Apr.
2012.
<http://www.medicinenet.com/tourette_syndrome/arti
cle.htm>.
Board, A.D.A.M. Editorial. "Causes, Incidence, and
Risk Factors." Gilles De La Tourette Syndrome. U.S.
National Library of Medicine, 18 Nov. 0000. Web. 19
Apr. 2012.
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH000
1744/>.