Tourette syndrome is a chronic neurological disorder associated with involuntary movements or unwanted vocal noises, also know as tics. Tics may range in both frequency and severity. For some patients, tics may be infrequent and unnoticeable, but for others they can be very frequent, intense, intrusive and even self-injurious.
What causes Tourette syndrome?
The exact cause of Tourette syndrome is unknown. However, there is increasing evidence that this it is likely caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors.
What are the symptoms of Tourette syndrome?
The primary symptoms of Tourette syndrome are motor and vocal tics. Motor tics may include jerking of the limbs, blinking or shoulder shrugging. Vocal tics, meanwhile, are characterized by shouting out certain words, humming or clearing the throat.
Symptoms usually begin between the ages of 5 and 10 years old. Tourette syndrome is a chronic condition, though it is not unusual for the frequency and severity of tics to change throughout the lifespan. While some people may experience worse symptoms with age, others may have fewer and less severe tics as they enter adulthood. It is also possible for symptoms to reappear after disappearing for some time.
Contrary to common beliefs about the condition, Tourette syndrome’s symptoms rarely include shouting profanity (coprolalia) or repeating the words of others. In fact, these traits are not needed for a diagnosis of Tourette syndrome.
How is Tourette syndrome diagnosed?
Tourette syndrome is not diagnosed through a specific test. Individuals who receive a diagnosis usually meet the following criteria:
- Their symptoms begin before age 18.
- They have multiple motor tics and at least one vocal tic.
- Their tics have lasted for at least a year.
- Their tics are not caused by substance abuse or another medical condition.
How is Tourette syndrome treated?
Tourette syndrome is not curable. However, patients who require treatment can manage their symptoms through a combination of medication and/or behavioral therapies.
Kennedy Krieger Institute is also leading research into several behavioral therapies to manage the symptoms of Tourette syndrome, including:
- Habit Reversal Training, which helps patients become more aware of their tics and teaches them strategies to replace tic behaviors with alternative actions, like subtly squinting their eyes to counter eye-widening tics.
- Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics, a therapy that builds on the foundation of habit reversal training by incorporating interventions and relaxation techniques, including breathing and progressive muscle relaxation, to manage factors that can trigger tics.
- Exposure with Response Prevention, which focuses on helping patients experience the urge to tic without acting on it through gradual exposure. It aims to disrupt the pattern of premonitory urges (the sensations that typically precede tics) and reduce the need to perform a tic.
Individuals with additional co-occurring conditions may require different treatments based on their symptoms.