Management of Tourette’s disorder
Also known as Gilles de la Tourette’s syndrome or multiple tic disorder,
this disorder usually first appears in children between 4–15 yrs and has a
prevalence of 1:10 000. Diagnosis is based on recurrent tics over a period
> 1 yr in which there is never a tic-free period for > 3 mths.
Clinical features
• More common in boys
• Bizarre multiple motor tics
• One or more vocal tics
• Echolalia (repetition of words)
• Coprolalia (compulsive utterances of obscene words)
• Familial: dominant gene with variable expression
Treatment
• Education and counselling of patient, parents and teachers
• Haloperidol, clonidine or pimozide (if necessary).
Also known as Gilles de la Tourette’s syndrome or multiple tic disorder,
this disorder usually first appears in children between 4–15 yrs and has a
prevalence of 1:10 000. Diagnosis is based on recurrent tics over a period
> 1 yr in which there is never a tic-free period for > 3 mths.
Clinical features
• More common in boys
• Bizarre multiple motor tics
• One or more vocal tics
• Echolalia (repetition of words)
• Coprolalia (compulsive utterances of obscene words)
• Familial: dominant gene with variable expression
Treatment
• Education and counselling of patient, parents and teachers
• Haloperidol, clonidine or pimozide (if necessary).