Tourette Syndrome

Abstract

I report the clinical details of Tourette syndrome in 15 children. The condition typically starts at age 6 years with eyeblinking, and the child soon develops other tics and abnormal vocalizations. Coprolalia and echolalia occure but are infrequent. The average delay in correct diagnosis in this series was four years. Treatment with haloperidol produces a good or excellent response in three quarters of the patients. Many of the children have a history of encephalopathic events, "soft signs" on neurologic examination, and problems in school. Personal and social adjustmen are generally good, however.

Tourette syndrome: A review and educational implications

“…However, Abuzzahab and Anderson (1973) reported psychopathology present in 33~ of their cases. In a study of 15 subjects, Golden (1977) found 3 to have major personality problems and 11 to have problems in school. However, Shapiro and Shapiro (1982) indicated that the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory scores of Tourette patients were within the normal range.…”

“…In a study of 15 Tourette patients, Golden (1977) reported that 10 were initially misdiagnosed as having nervous habits or attention-getting behaviors, 2 as having simple tics, and 2 as having organic disorders. Only 1 patient was initially diagnosed as Tourette.…”