Tourette's Disorder

The essential features of Tourette's Disorder are multiple motor tics and one or more vocal tics (Criterion A).  These may appear simultaneously or at different periods during the illness.  The tics occur many times a day, recurrently throughout a period of more than 1 year (Criterion B).  During this period, there is never a tic-free period of more than 3 consecutive months.  The disturbance causes marked distress or significant impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning (Criterion C).  The onset of the disorder is before age 18 years (Criterion D).  The tics are not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (e.g., stimulants) or a general medical condition (e.g., Huntington's disease or post viral encephalitis) (Criterion E).

    

American Psychiatric Association:  Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition.  Washington, DC, American Psychiatric Association, 1994, p.101. 

  • Tourette's disorder is a disorder of disinhibition. 
  •  It involves the failure of gating motor, cognitive and limbic pathways. 

This inability to suppress impulsive activity becomes worse with stress and boredom.


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