title: Adult tics in Gilles de la Tourette's syndrome: description and risk factors.
abstract: We studied 58 adults with Gilles de la Tourette's syndrome diagnosed during childhood. Tics persisted in all patients but were moderate/severe in only 24%, compared with 60% at the time of worst function. Coprolalia persisted in 4%, compared with 22% at the time of worst function. For most patients, worst function occurred in adolescence (mode = 13 years). In spite of a high frequency of school and behavioral problems during development, 98% graduated high school and 90% were full-time students or fully employed. Features predictive of mild tic severity in adulthood were mild tics during the patient's worst pre-adulthood function and mild tics during early and late adolescence. Childhood tic severity had no predictive value, and likewise, coprolalia during development did not increase the risk for adult moderate/severe tics.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological Sciences, Rush Presbyterian St. Luke's Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60612.
authors.forename: C G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Goetz
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Tanner
authors.forename: G T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Stebbins
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Leipzig
authors.forename: W C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Carr
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D013981:Tic Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D005879:Tourette Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology