Tourette syndrome is a chronic, genetically transmitted neurochemical disorder characterized by involuntary motor movements and vocalizations, with tics of varying degrees of severity. It affects approximately 0.5% to 3% of the population, is more common in males, and often co-occurs with disorders like OCD and ADHD. Treatment options include various medications such as neuroleptics, antidepressants, and anti-anxiety drugs aimed at managing symptoms.

1. Developmental Disabilities Project
November 13

2. Tourette Syndrome
1885: George Albert Edward Gilles de la Tourette first
recorded the symptoms in the Marquis de Dampierre
A syndrome is “a group of symptoms that collectively
indicate or characterize a disease, disorder, or other
abnormal condition.”
Neurological disorder characterized by tics
Tics can be mild or severe in nature

3. Tourette Syndrome Defined
Tourette Syndrome is a chronic, genetically transmitted
neurochemical disorder that causes involuntary
motor movements and vocalizations that are sounds,
words, or a combination of the two.

4. Prevalence of Tourettes
Figures range from 1:2000 to 1:100, approximately
0.005 to 0.03 or 0.5% to 3% of the population
Tourettes occurs more in males than females
Females have higher incidents of Obsessive
Compulsive Disorders

5. Tics Defined
Rapid, involuntary, sudden movements or
vocalizations that occur rapidly at irregular intervals
Two types of tics(Motor and Vocal):
1. Simple – sudden, meaningless movements of
individual muscle groups
2.Complex – groups of movements using more than one
muscle group that is definite

6. Tic Characteristics
Onset average is 7 years of age
Determined in school age children
Described as on urge or extreme need to carry out
actions
External – what can be seen
Examples: head jerking, kicking, grimacing, etc
Internal - what can not be seen
Examples: abdominal tensing, jaw clicking, etc.
Tourette Sydrome PSA (28 seconds)

7. Types of Tics
There are several types of tics. These are the 10 most
common.
1. Simple Motor Tics
2.Complex Motor Tics
3. Simple Vocal Tics
4.Complex Motor Tics
5.Copropraxia
6.Echopraxia
7.Coprolalia

8. Type of Tics Continued
8. Palilalia
9. Echolalia
10. Speech Atypicalities

9. Associated Disorders
1. Obsessive Compulsive Disorders
2. Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)
3. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

10. Medications
Neuroleptics are tranquillizers that generally suppress
motor and phonic tics
Examples:
Haldol
Orap
Thorazine

11. Medications Continued
Antidepressants are drugs used to treat or prevent
depression.
Examples:
Anafranil
Paxil
Prozac
Zoloft

12. Medications continued
Anti-anxiety drugs help decrease ADHD symptoms
Examples:
Valium
Xanax
Buspar
Tranxene

13. Medications continued
Central Nervous System (CNS)Stimulants are a
substance that increases nervous excitability and
alertness.
Examples:
Ritalin
Dexadrine
Cylert

14. Medications Continued
Anti convulsants are medications that treat and help
prevent seizures
Examples
Klonipin
Tegretol

15. Medications continued
Anti hyper tensives are drugs that stop the message
from getting through to certain muscle groups.
Examples
 Catapress
Tenex

16. Behaviour Issues
Rage is part of what an individual might experience as a
result of having to control or stop their behaviour.
Aggression is a factor that will increase the way tics
present itself.

17. Medical Breakthrough
Now known to be caused by a specific genetic
mutation as early as 2005.
Research has been published in a Issue of Science
Magazine, dated October 14, 2005.
Discovery of gene inversion on chromosome 13, “flip-
flop”
Focus on breakpoints: gene SLITRK1 (brain growth
and neuron interconnections)

18. Famous people that have
Tourettes
Dr. Samuel Johnson Poet 1709-1784
Jim Eisenreich Baseball Player 1959-
Howard Hughes Actor 1905-1976
Howie Mandel TV Host 1955-
Dan Acroyd Actor 1952-
David Beckham Soccer Player 1975-

19. Professionals
David E. Comings, M.D
Richard P. Lifton, MD, Ph. D
Local interviewee
Carl Lockyer, founder of the Tourette Syndrome
Foundation of Thunder Bay.

20. Videos
Music Video
Enya - TS Video, "The Tics" (2 minutes 17 Seconds)
VHS Clip
“I Have Tourette But Tourettes Doesn’t Have Me”
(4 minutes 51 seconds)

21. Tourette Syndrome Defined
Tourette Syndrome is a chronic, genetically transmitted
neurochemical disorder that causes involuntary
motor movements and vocalizations that are sounds,
words, or a combination of the two.

22. Information
Tourette Syndrome Foundation of Canada
National Office
#206, 194 Jarvis Street
Toronto, Ontario
Canada M5B 2B7
Telephone: (416) 861-8398
Toll Free: 1-800-361-3120
Facsimile: (416) 861-2472

23. Information Continued
Tourette Syndrome Association, Inc
42-40 Bell Blvd., Suite 205
Bayside, NY 11361-2820
718-224-2999

24. Thank you