Tourette Syndrome is a neurological disorder characterized by sudden, repetitive movements or sounds called tics. These tics are usually involuntary and can be either physical or verbal. Tourette Syndrome is considered a chronic condition with no cure in sight. However, some treatments can help with the symptoms and make life easier for those who suffer from it. There are only two FDA-approved medications for Tourette Syndrome: Haldol and Clonidine. Haldol is an antipsychotic medication that helps control the most severe symptoms of Tourette Syndrome, such as extreme impulsiveness and violence. Additionally, it has mild sedative properties that help people fall asleep at night. Clonidine is a blood pressure medication that suppresses the body’s natural response to stress.

What is Tourette Syndrome?

Tourette syndrome is a neurological disorder that causes people to have uncontrollable and repetitive physical tics. It can also cause vocal tics, which are sounds or words that are repeated. There are three types of Tourette’s: Tourette Syndrome, Chronic Motor Tic Disorder, and Transient Tic Disorder. Tourette Syndrome is the most common type of Tourettes, where the person has both vocal and motor tics for more than one year before the age of 18.

Tourette Syndrome Symptoms and Diagnostic Criteria

Tourette syndrome is a lifelong condition, but symptoms management is possible with medication and behavioral therapy. 

The symptoms of Tourette syndrome are:

– Vocal tics (may include grunting noises, throat clearing, or coughing) or words in the case of coprolalia (i.e., involuntary swearing).

– The symptoms of Tourette syndrome consist of multiple motor and vocal tics, classified into simple and complex categories. 

– Simple motor tics (such as head jerking, eye blinking, or shoulder shrugging)

– Complex motor or vocal tics (such as jumping in place, touching objects repeatedly, or saying obscenities) – Complex motor tics can be more challenging to identify because they can involve coordinated movements of the head, trunk, or extremities.

– Obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors

– Anxiety and depression

– Attention problems

– Sleep problems

The diagnostic criteria for Tourette syndrome:

The diagnostic criteria for Tourette syndrome are currently controversial, with some experts arguing the broad definition of this disorder should be narrowed.

The CDC has created diagnostic criteria for Tourette Syndrome to provide a clear and concise definition of the disorder. 

The four criteria are:

1. Presence of motor tics. (Quick repetitive movements that occur in the face, head, neck, shoulders, trunk, or limbs)

2. Presence of vocal tics – (Sudden, repetitive movement of the muscles used for speech or other sounds. Tics can affect any part of the vocal tract, including the lips, tongue, jaw, and throat)

3. Presence of both motor and one or more vocal tics during the illness. The tic may be simple or complex. 

4. Tics present at least one year

If someone meets all four criteria, they are diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome.

How Is Tourette Syndrome Treated?

Treatment for Tourette syndrome can vary depending on symptoms and other factors.

The most common treatment for Tourette syndrome is medication, which helps reduce tics and other symptoms. The other treatments are behavioral therapy and sometimes deep brain stimulation.

Most people with Tourette syndrome will have less severe tics when taking medication, but some may still experience intermittent tics while on medication.

You cannot catch Tourette Syndrome from anyone else, and it is not a form of mental illness.

Is There a Cure for Tourette Syndrome? The Current State of Research and Potential New Treatments in Development

Tourette syndrome is an inherited neurological disorder that causes uncontrollable and repetitive physical tics. It can also cause vocal tics, which are repeated sounds or words.

Tourette syndrome has no cure, but treatments are available to help control the condition’s symptoms. You can use a variety of medications to manage symptoms of Tourette syndrome, including antipsychotics, antidepressants, and alpha-adrenergic blockers.

There is a lot of research on new treatments for Tourette’s syndrome. One potential treatment is deep brain stimulation which uses electric currents to target specific areas in the brain where tics originate from and reduce their severity or stop them altogether.

For more information, visit https://tourette.org.au/.