Walsh & Hoyt: Tourette Syndrome

The Gilles de la Tourette syndrome is a spectrum of familial, involuntary, motor and/or vocal tics and neuropsychiatric problems. The first description was of a French nobleman who made barking sounds. The most prominent clinical sign of the Tourette syndrome is the ticinvoluntary rapid, brief, repetitive stereotyped movements or vocalizations. It may occur in one muscle region or multiple regions at the same time. There may be unpleasant sensory sensations prior to the motor movement. Tics are greatly exacerbated by stress and largely eliminated during sleep.