What is Tourett's syndrome?

Definition

Gilles de la Tourette syndrome (Tourette syndrome) is a neuropsychiatric disorder characterized by the joint occurrence of motor and vocal tics. Tourette's syndrome is the most common tic disorder in adulthood. As with all tic disorders, the diagnosis must be made clinically. Additional instrumental examinations are only used to rule out other disorders. Diagnosis requires the onset of the disorder in childhood or adolescence, a duration of at least one year and fluctuations in the tics over the course of the disorder. The diagnosis of Tourette's syndrome does not require a particular severity of the tics (or the presence of coprolalia). Approximately 0.5-1% of the population worldwide suffer from Tourette's syndrome.

Comorbidities

Recent studies have shown that around 80-90% of all patients with Tourette's syndrome have comorbidities, i.e. other (psychological) symptoms in addition to the tics. Tourette syndrome without comorbidities is only present in about 10-20% of patients.

In children and adolescents, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) (in about 50%) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (in about 30%) are the most common comorbidities. Other psychiatric concomitant symptoms of Tourette's syndrome include social behavior disorder, oppositional defiant behavior, learning disorders, anxiety disorders, depression, sleep disorders and auto-aggressive behavior. It is well documented that as the number and severity of comorbidities increases, so does the severity of the tics. Studies on the quality of life of children with Tourette's syndrome have shown that ADHD and obsessive-compulsive disorder usually lead to far greater impairment than the tics. These symptoms therefore require special attention and, if necessary, treatment.

In adults , obsessive-compulsive symptoms are probably the most common comorbidity. However, depression is also common, followed by symptoms of ADHD (which persist into adulthood) and impulse control disorders. Severe auto-aggressive behavior is rarely found in adulthood. Recent studies on the quality of life of adults with Tourette's syndrome have shown that it is not the tics, but depressive symptoms and compulsions that usually cause the greatest impairment. Therefore, the presence of these symptoms should rarely be considered.

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