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The clinical picture and management of Gilles de la Tourette's syndrome

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Abstract

Gilles de la Tourette's syndrome is a rare disorder, usually of childhood onset, characterized by multiple muscular tics and vocalizations frequently in the form of coprolalia; other abnormal motor manifestations are frequently seen. Of the seven cases reported, six are completely characteristic of the syndrome. Five patients showed improvement of symptoms on haloperidol, while two patients (both with severe cases and evidence of organic changes in the central nervous system) showed no improvement, even at doses up to 20 milligrams per day. In two of the responding patients, tolerance to haloperidol developed. Early treatment is felt to be important. The natural course of this disorder could be better understood if, as suggested, an international registry could be launched.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota

    F. S. Abuzzahab Sr. M.D., Ph.D. (Assistant Professor) & K. James Ehlen M.D.

Authors
  1. F. S. Abuzzahab Sr. M.D., Ph.D.
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  2. K. James Ehlen M.D.
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Additional information

This study was supported in part by National Institute of Mental Health grant MYP-5106.

Dr. Ehlen is Research Assistant, supported by McNeil Laboratories, Inc., Fort Washington, Pennsylvania, and Work Study Program, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455.

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Abuzzahab, F.S., Ehlen, K.J. The clinical picture and management of Gilles de la Tourette's syndrome. Child Psych Hum Dev 2, 14–25 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01442055

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