Tics and tourette syndrome

Valerie Cathérine Brandt, Alexander Münchau*

*Corresponding author for this work

    Abstract

    Gilles de la Tourette syndrome is a neurodevelopmental disorder, characterized by a wide variety of symptoms, ranging from simple motor and phonic tics to complex movement cascades, and echophenomena and coprophenomena. Moreover, Tourette syndrome is frequently accompanied by obsessive-compulsive disorder and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, often leading to a higher psychosocial impairment than tics. Tics are typically associated with an uncontrollable, uncomfortable, premonitory urge to execute the tic. Although Tourette syndrome is highly heritable, no single gene could be identified as a main risk factor for developing tics, yet. Moreover, the severity of Tourette syndrome can be influenced by environmental factors such as stress or attention. Pathophysiologically, Tourette syndrome has been repeatedly associated with abnormalities in cortico-striatal-thalamo-cortical loops and the dopaminergic neurotransmitter system. In accordance with these observations, successful treatment measures include neuroleptics, behavioural therapy and in severe cases tetra-hydro-cannabinol and deep brain stimulation of some of the structures in cortico-striatal-thalamo-cortical loops.

    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationMovement Disorders Curricula
    Number of pages12
    PublisherSpringer-Verlag Wien
    Publication date01.01.2017
    Pages291-302
    ISBN (Print)9783709116272
    ISBN (Electronic)9783709116289
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 01.01.2017

    Research Areas and Centers

    • Academic Focus: Center for Brain, Behavior and Metabolism (CBBM)

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