Tourette SyndromeSymptoms, Doctors, Treatments, Advances & More
Learn About Tourette Syndrome
View Main Condition: Movement Disorders
Tourette syndrome is a condition that causes a person to make repeated, quick movements or sounds that they cannot control.
Gilles de la Tourette syndrome; Tic disorders - Tourette syndrome; Tourette's syndrome
Tourette syndrome is named for Georges Gilles de la Tourette, who first described this disorder in 1885. The disorder is likely passed down through families.
The syndrome may be linked to problems in certain areas of the brain. It may have to do with chemicals (dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine) that help nerve cells signal one another.
Tourette syndrome can be either severe or mild. Many people with very mild tics may not be aware of them and never seek medical help. Far fewer people have more severe forms of Tourette syndrome.
Tourette syndrome is 3 times as likely to occur in boys as in girls. There is a 50% chance that a person with Tourette syndrome will pass the gene that causes it onto their children, although the children may have no or fewer symptoms.
Symptoms of Tourette syndrome are often first noticed during childhood, at about 6 years of age. Most children with Tourette syndrome also have other medical problems. These can include attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), impulse control disorder, or depression.
The most common first symptom is a tic of the face. Other tics may follow. A tic is a sudden, fast, repeated movement or sound.
Symptoms of Tourette syndrome can range from tiny, minor movements (such as grunts, sniffling, or coughing) to constant movements and sounds that cannot be controlled.
Different types of tics can include:
- Arm thrusting
- Eye blinking
- Jumping
- Kicking
- Repeated throat clearing or sniffing
- Shoulder shrugging
Tics may occur many times a day. They tend to improve or get worse at different times. The tics may change with time. Symptoms often get worse before the mid-teen years.
Contrary to popular belief, only a small number of people use curse words or other inappropriate words or phrases (coprolalia).
Tourette syndrome is different from OCD. People with OCD feel as though they have to do the behaviors. Sometimes a person can have both Tourette syndrome and OCD.
Many people with Tourette syndrome can stop doing the tic for periods of time. But they find that the tic is stronger for a few minutes after they allow it to start again. Often, the tic slows or stops during sleep.
People who have mild symptoms often do not need any treatment. This is because the side effects of the medicines may be worse than the symptoms of Tourette syndrome.
A type of talk therapy (cognitive behavioral therapy) called habit-reversal may help to suppress tics.
Different medicines are available to treat Tourette syndrome. The exact medicine that is used depends on the symptoms and any other medical problems.
Ask your provider if deep brain stimulation is an option for you. It is being evaluated for the main symptoms of Tourette syndrome and the obsessive-compulsive behaviors. The treatment is not recommended when these symptoms and behaviors occur in the same person.
Brigham And Women's Hospital, Neurosciences Center
Jeremiah Scharf is a Neurologist practicing medicine in Boston, Massachusetts. Dr. Scharf is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Tourette Syndrome. He is also highly rated in 7 other conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Tourette Syndrome, Movement Disorders, Transient Tic Disorder, Drug Induced Dyskinesia, and Deep Brain Stimulation. Dr. Scharf is board certified in Neurology and Behavioral & Cognitive.
Kennedy Krieger Associates
Marco Grados is a Psychiatrist and a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist practicing medicine in Baltimore, Maryland. Dr. Grados is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Tourette Syndrome. He is also highly rated in 3 other conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Tourette Syndrome, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and Anorexia. Dr. Grados is board certified in American Board Of Psychiatry And Neurology.
Cathy Budman is a Psychiatrist practicing medicine in Manhasset, New York. Dr. Budman is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Tourette Syndrome. She is also highly rated in 1 other condition, according to our data. Her clinical expertise encompasses Tourette Syndrome, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Dr. Budman is board certified in American Board Of Psychiatry/Neurology-Psychiatry.
More information and support for people with Tourette syndrome and their families can be found at:
- Tourette Association of America -- tourette.org/online-support-groups-tourette-syndrome/
Symptoms are often worst during the teenage years and then improve in early adulthood. In some people, symptoms go away entirely for a few years and then return. In a few people, symptoms do not return at all.
Conditions that may occur in people who have Tourette syndrome include:
- Anger control issues
- ADHD
- Impulsive behavior
- OCD
- Poor social skills
These conditions need to be diagnosed and treated.
Make an appointment with your provider if you or child has tics that are severe or persistent, or if they interfere with daily life.
There is no known prevention.
Background: \- In deep brain stimulation (DBS), a device called a neurostimulator is placed in the chest. It is attached to wires in parts of the brain that affect movement. DBS might help people with movement disorders like Parkinson s disease (PD), dystonia, and essential tremor (ET).
Summary: This is a clinical trial where adolescents aged 10-16 years old with Tourette Syndrome (or chronic tic disorder) are randomized to receive either real-time functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) neurofeedback targeting the supplementary motor area (for the experimental intervention) or real-time fMRI neurofeedback (NF) from a control region (for the control intervention).
Published Date: January 27, 2026
Published By: Joseph V. Campellone, MD, Department of Neurology, Cooper Medical School at Rowan University, Camden, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Jankovic J. Parkinson disease and other movement disorders. In: Jankovic J, Mazziotta JC, Pomeroy SL, Newman NJ, eds. Bradley and Daroff's Neurology in Clinical Practice. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 96.
Kim JW, Walter HJ, DeMaso DR. Motor disorders and habits. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, et al, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 22nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2025:chap 37.
Singer HS, Mink JW, Gilbert DL, Jankovic J. Tics and Tourette syndrome. In: Singer HS, Mink JW, Gilbert DL, Jankovic J, eds. Movement Disorders in Childhood. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 7.
Tochen L, Singer HS. Tics and Tourette syndrome. In: Ashwal S, Pearl PL, eds. Swaiman's Pediatric Neurology: Principles and Practice. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2026:chap 118.