Tourette's Disorder
...of Tic Disorders
Differential Diagnosis
Symptomatology
Associated Behaviors and Cognitive Difficulties
Etiology
Stimulant Medications
Epidemiology and Genetics
Non-Genetic Contributions
Clinical Assessment Of Tourette Syndrome
Treatment Of Tourette Syndrome
Monitoring
Reassurance
Pharmacological Treatment of Tourette Syndrome
Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
Family Treatment
Genetic Counseling
Academic and Occupational Interventions
Bibliography
Today the full-blown case of TS is unlikely to be confused with any other
disorder.
However, only a decade ago TS was frequently misdiagnosed as schizophrenia,
obsessive-compulsive disorder, Sydenham's chorea, epilepsy, or nervous habits.
The
differentiation of TS from other tic syndromes may be no more than semantic,
especially
since recent genetic evidence links TS with multiple tics. Transient tics of
childhood are
best defined in retrospect. At times it may be difficult to distinguish
children with
extreme attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) from TS. Many ADHD
children, on
close examination, have a few phonic or motor tics, grimace, or produce noises
similar to
those of TS. Since at least half of the TS patients also have attention
deficits and
hyperactivity as children, a physician may well be confused. However, the
treating doctor
should be aware of the potential dangers of treating a possible case of TS with
stimulant
medication. On rare occasions the differentiation between TS and a seizure
disorder may be
problematic. The symptoms of TS sometimes occur in a rather sharply separated
paroxysmal
manner and may resemble automatisms. TS patients, however, retain a clear
consciousness
during such paroxysms. If the diagnosis is in...
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