What is Tourette Syndrome?
Tourettes syndrome is a complex neurological and psychiatric disease. Core symptoms include motor and vocal tics, which are constantly changing and their intensity varies greatly. The beginning is always in childhood or adolescence. The course is chronic.

What are tics?
Have motor tics defined as occurring involuntarily twitching, which can in principle occur at the whole body, but most often are localized on the face and head (eg eye blinking, grimacing facial movements, head jerking). Vocal tics are involuntary sounds brought forth, sounds or words (eg throat, cough or “hmm”).

Tics, in addition to other symptoms of Tourette’s syndrome associated?
Yes. Many of those affected are accompanying behavioral problems. When symptoms are frequent in childhood hyperactivity, as well as to call it a disorder of attention and impulse control. Continue to occur compulsive behaviors and thoughts, anxiety, depression or self-aggression. Tourettes syndrome is not associated with impairment of intellectual capacity.

Tourette’s victims have all the same symptoms?
No. There are probably no two people in the world with Tourette’s syndrome with completely identical symptoms. Tourette sufferers can suppress its symptoms? Some but not all concerned can temporarily suppress their tics voluntarily for a short period of time more or less. This will mostly be perceived as stressful and unpleasant. In addition, in connection often follows a period of increased tics.

What is coprolalia?
Some Tourette’s sufferers have to involuntarily utter swear words or obscene words. This symptom is called coprolalia. It often leads to prejudice and social discrimination, especially when falsely assumes a personal affront or insult.

What is the history of Tourette’s syndrome?
The course is chronic. However, the frequency and intensity of tics in adults aged spontaneously. Another characteristic symptom is considerable variation with varying severity tics.

What is the cause of Tourette’s syndrome?
Tourette’s syndrome is an organic brain disorder. Is Tourette syndrome inherited? Yes. However, until now, neither one nor the underlying Erbveränderung exact mode of inheritance are found.

Is Tourette’s syndrome curable?
No. To date, no therapy is known to lead to a cure. Are there treatment options? Yes. For the treatment of tics and other possible symptoms of Tourette’s syndrome, various medications available. However, since they can also produce side effects, treatment must always be made individually in consultation with the treating physician.

How many people in the world have a Tourette’s syndrome?
There are only vague estimates. Presumably there are – other than previously thought – clearly more than one million sufferers.

Tourette’s syndrome is a “new” disease?
No. Tourettes syndrome was first described in 1825 and received its name from the French neurologist Georges Gilles de la Tourette in 1885.

Or famous people have also had a Tourette’s syndrome?
It is certain that the writer Samuel Johnson, as well as the American basketball player Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf Tourette’s are affected. From historical documents it is discussed whether, for example, Claudius, Napoleon, Moliere, and Mozart, Peter the Great had a Tourette’s syndrome.

How is Tourette syndrome diagnosed?
The diagnosis is clinical, that is, on the basis of medical history and examination by the doctor made familiar Tourette’s syndrome.