Diagnosing Tourette syndrome: is it a common disorder?
OBJECTIVE
The evaluate the prevalence of Tourette syndrome (TS).


METHODS
A review of the literature on TS was undertaken to examine the prevalence of TS in mainstream children as well as those in special education.


RESULTS
Recent studies have indicated that TS occurs in around 1% of youngsters in mainstream schools between the ages of 5 and 16 years. It is even more common in youngsters with special educational needs.


CONCLUSIONS
TS is more common than was previously documented.
Robertson
Mary M
MM
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences, Royal Free and University College Medical School, University College London, 2nd Floor Wolfson Building, 48 Riding House Street, London W1N 8AA, UK. rejummr@ucl.ac.uk
D000293:Adolescent; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015897:Comorbidity; D004519:Education, Special; D006801:Humans; D008282:Mainstreaming, Education / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D005879:Tourette Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics