Gilles De La Tourette's Syndrome

Abstract

The classic and pure form of Gilles de la Tourette's syndrome is characterized by: (1) Multiple motor tics, generally developing during childhood or adolescence, starting in the face, neck or hands, and tending to spread to involve most of the skeletal muscles. Sometimes they are paroxysmal, but the victims never lose consciousness. (2) “Vocal tics”, occurring when the contractions spread to the laryngeal muscles. The victims utter sounds, often resembling the cries of an animal, such as barking, bellowing or whinnying (3). Generally the last to appear, though the order probably varies, is a compulsion to shout obscene or blasphemous words, insults or oaths. Echopraxia and echolalia are disorders bordering on this syndrome, and sometimes accompanying it.