General Description
American Psychiatric Association. (2000). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision. Washington, DC.
The main features of Tourette's Disorder (307.23) are many motor tics and at least one vocal tic. They may appear during the separate or at the same time during the illness.
Diagnostic Criteria
American Psychiatric Association. (2000). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision. Washington, DC.
An individual could be diagnosis with Tourette's Disorder if they have the following symptoms.
- Both multiple motor and one or more vocal tics have been present at some time during the illness, although not necessarily concurrently. (A tic is a sudden, rapid, recurrent, nonrhythmic, stereotyped motor movement or vocalization.)
- The tics occur many times a day (usually in bouts) nearly every day or intermittently throughout a period of more than 1 year, and during this period there was 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.
- The onset is before age 18 years.
- The disturbance is not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (e.g., stimulants) or a general medical condition (e.g., Huntington's disease or postviral encephalitis).
Etiology
American Psychiatric Association. (2000). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision. Washington, DC.
This disorder appears to be genetic. Males tend to have a slightly higher likelihood of developing this disorder.
Comorbidity
Individual with Tourette's Disorder are also more likely to have attention problems (40%), academic difficulties (35%), ADHD (estimate at 50%), and OCD and other anxiety disorders (25 to 30%).
Prevalence
American Psychiatric Association. (2000). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision. Washington, DC.
Tourette's is related to age. About 5-30 children per 10,000 are affected and about 1-2 adults per 10,000 are affected.
EBP Treatment Approaches
Listed below are either evidence-based practices or promising practices that have been successful at treating Tourette's Disorder.
Psychosocial Treatments
- Habit Covariance
- Habit Reversal
Pharmacological Treatments
(Click on Medications)
References
Prestia, K. (2003, Nov.). Tourette's Syndrome: characteristics and interventions. Intervention in School & Clinic, 39(2); 67-72.
Note - Full text is available through the University at Buffalo Libraries.
Collection of Evidence-Based Treatment Modalities for Children and Adolescents with Mental Health Treatment Needs: Section II
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Links
National Tourette Syndrome Association, Inc.
Tourette Syndrome
Tourette Syndrome "Plus"
Yahoo's Tourette Syndrome Links
Fact Sheets
Fact Sheets from the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Note - Click on topic. (Please note disclaimer).
The AACAP developed Facts for Families to provide concise and up-to-date information on issues that affect children, teenagers, and their families.
The AACAP website includes facts, statistics, and overviews of different problems children and adolescents face and different mental health disorders that affect children and adolescents.
Fact Sheets from the National Institute of Mental Health
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NIMH offers a variety of publications and other educational resources to help people with mental health disorders, the general public, mental health and health care practitioners, and researchers gain a better understanding of mental illnesses and the research programs of the NIMH.
This website includes facts, statistics, pamphlets, checklists, and overviews of mental health disorders.
Fact Sheets from the National Mental Health Association
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The NMHA offers answers to frequently asked questions, facts, statistics and overviews about different mental health disorders, as well as information about treatments and other problems that affect children and adolescents.
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