Current Pharmacologic And Complementary Therapies For Tourette Syndrome

Tourette syndrome (TS) is a neurologic disorder characterized by repetitive, involuntary movements and vocalizations, referred to as tics. The onset of TS is typically between 2 and 18 years of age. Although the exact cause of TS is not completely understood, there are several potential etiologies that involve genetic or acquired abnormalities in neural pathways or neurotransmitter systems. Tics can vary from infrequent and barely noticeable to continuous and highly disruptive behaviors. Treatment of tics is usually aimed at controlling the most troublesome symptoms that negatively affect school, work, or daily activities. While no definitive treatment guidelines have been established, pharmacotherapy generally involves the use of alphaadrenergic agonists or typical and atypical antipsychotics. Nonpharmacologic treatments, such as habit reversal therapy and deep brain stimulation, have shown to be effective. Since the management of TS can be difficult and patients are often refractory to traditional treatment options, it has become increasingly important to review current and emerging therapies available for TS.