Tourette syndrome Definition
Caracteristics of the symptoms
Definition
- Tourette Syndrome (TS) is a neurological disorder characterized by tics (rapid and sudden, recurrent, stereotyped motor movements or vocalizations that are involuntary).
- Both multiple motor and one or more vocal tics can be present at some time during active phases of TS, not necessarily at the same time.
- Tics can occur many times a day (usually in series) almost every day or intermittently over a period of more than one year.
- We can observe a variation in the number, frequency, type, localization and intensity of tics.
- Symptoms appear before age 18.
- Tics are not caused by a substance (stimulant) or other medical condition.
- The number, localization, frequency and severity of tics can change over time.
- Vocal tics are noises, words or sounds.
- Speaking obscenities can be found in less than 10% of people with TS.
- Tics may diminish during adolescence and adulthood and disappear completely in certain cases.
- Even when remission is complete, certain tics can reappear during stressful periods.
Associated symptoms
- Attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- Anxiety
- Sleep disorder
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD
- Intermittent explosive disorder
- Etc
Gender ratio
- TS would affect three times as many boys as girls