For Patients & Families  Tourette Syndrome  Tourette Syndrome
(TS) is an often-misunderstood neuropsychiatric disorder that
occurs more often in males and affects four to five children per
10,000 (although some studies report rates as high as 3% of the
population). Because most cases of TS are mild and do not come
to medical attention, or are often unrecognized and
misdiagnosed, prevalence rates have been difficult to determine.
Diagnosis and Classification  Tics are defined as sudden,
repetitive, stereotyped movements and vocalizations and are
generally classified as simple (those that are rapid and appear
to have no purpose) or complex (slower, more orchestrated, and
appearing as if they might have some purpose). Diagnoses of tic
disorders are based on history and clinical presentation; there
is no diagnostic test. According to the Diagnostic and
Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV),
a diagnosis of Chronic Motor Tic Disorder is made if the
individual has had motor tics for over a