1. University of Puerto Rico at Cayey
Department of Biology
November 10
The Development of the Tourette syndrome in Children
Ingrid Marie Melendez Nieves
Scientific Literature Course
Profesor Eneida Díaz
Profesor Elena González

2. Abstract
Tourette's syndrome is one of the most complex problems of nervous tic. For years
there have been studies that confirm that the largest number of patients is children.
Different studies show that cases of children with this syndrome indicate that as
they grow, the syndrome disappears. Moreover, the probability that this syndrome
occurs is four times higher in boys than in girls. It is important to keep in mind the
complications of this syndrome, and it is possible that genetic material has to do
with the development of the syndrome in children. For most people, when they
enter adulthood the syndrome disappears. But there are those that in adulthood
present it in a more complicated way. For others, the syndrome perhaps in their
youth disappears and then late adulthood reactivates the syndrome again. It is
believed that these variations are due to their genetic material.
Table of content
I. Abstract..................................................... 2
II. Introduction...............................................2-3
III. Clinical Investigations………………….3
IV. Children with the Syndrome: Risks………3-4
V. Possible treatments……………………...4
VI. Conclusion.................................................4-5
VII. Cited Bibliography.....................................5
Introduction
Over 100 years ago, a French physician, Georges Gilles de la Tourette wrote
an article in which he described nine children who had suffered from involuntary

3. movements, sounds, and rituals or compulsive behaviors. In his honor, this
condition is referred to as the symptoms of Gilles de la Tourette’s syndrome.
There are many types of tic disorders, but this review paper is about TD (Tic
Disorder). Comorbidity with obsessive-compulsive disorder and hyperactivity are
related such as attention deficit, hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), obsessive-compulsive
disorder (OCD), anxiety and depression. Fernando (2002) studied the
severity and relation of different disorders like DT and TD with comorbid TOC or
ADHD. He examined the severity of tics, the measures of psychopathology, and
other comorbid diagnoses (Fernandez 2002) Tics may occur many times during the
day, but they tend to improve or worsen at different times, and may change over
time. Symptoms usually get worse before the year in mid-adolescence.
Clinical investigations
Tics usually begin between the ages of 6 and 8 and are sudden. People who
experience this syndrome have a variety of different sensory problems, including
premonitory urges, prior tics, and somatic hypersensitivity due to impaired sensor
motor suppression. There are conditions such as stress, anxiety, and that cause tics.
Relaxation, exercise, or practicing sports help control tics. Ninety percent of
children with the syndrome also have comorbid disorder such as attention deficit
hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), or an
impulse control disorder conditions. In the evaluation of the syndrome, these
additional syndromes should be evaluated as these relate to each other. Most
children develop a normal lifestyle as they enter adulthood (Cohen et al. 2012).
Children with the syndrome: Risks

4. According to Roessner et al. (2010) the Tourette syndrome is a disorder of a
combination of both vocal and motor tics (arm thrusting, blinking eye, jump,
kicking, clarification of the throat and shoulder shrugging). This research is helpful
to the scientific community, because it leads to more deeply know the origin and
development of mental disorders and their relationship with tic disorder and
Tourette syndrome. About one in 100 people has Tourette syndrome. Often occurs
with other problems, such as attention deficit, hyperactivity disorder (ADHD),
obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), anxiety and depression. This syndrome is
more common in children, because they are born with genetic characteristics that
make inherit this condition. As time passes, most symptoms are lost forever, but
others can live with it all of their lives or maybe they reappear as adults.
Possible Treatments
Due to the strong impact of Tourette syndrome in children, different treatments
have been developed. That is why there have been various studies involving an
analysis of how effective certain treatments can be. Topiramate is used alone or
with other treatments to prevent or control certain conditions. Controlled trials
evaluating topiramate for children with Tourette syndrome were found (Chung-
Song et al. 2013). Two reviewers independently selected agents’ trials, assessed
quality, and extracted data, these agents after several attempts at testing; the results
were not the best. The current results are promising, but still not enough to support
the routine use of topiramate for Tourette syndrome in children due to the poor
quality of experimental study designs. They must be confirmed with the highest
quality placebo controlled trials.
Conclusion

5. After many years of research and studies of tics and Tourette syndrome, it is clear
that for this condition little about its origin and development are unknown.
According to studies, the most likely to be victims of this condition are children.
It's funny how this condition disappears with time and then can appear in
adulthood. Finally, there is no cure for Tourette syndrome (TS). Yes there are
treatments to help control tics caused by the condition. Many people with TS have
tics that do not disrupt their daily activities and, therefore, do not need treatment.
However, there are medications and behavioral treatments for cases in which the
tics are painful or cause injury, and interfere with school, work or social life, and
cause stress.
Cited Literature
Cohen S, Leckman J, Bloch M. Year Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews.
Clinical assessment of Tourette syndrome and tic disorders. [Internet](Cited 2012
September 14)
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0149763412002035
Black K., Jankovic J., Hershey T,. McNaught K,. Mink J,. Walkup J. Progress in
research on Tourette syndrome. [Internet] (February 2012)
Fernandez E, 2002. Comorbids disorders associated with tics. Rev Neurobiology
34 Suppl 1:S122-9 [Internet] (cited 2002 February)
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12447802
Rothner D, Rajan P, Ghosh D, Das D, Datta P, Erenberg G. 2014. Sleep disorders in Children
with Tourette Syndrome. Pediatric Neurology 51 (1):31-35. [Internet] (cited 2014 January 21)
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2014.03.017