Tourette’s syndrome is a neurological disorder characterized by repetitive and involuntary movements and expressions of unwanted sound, also called tics. In the United States, an estimated 138,000 children between six and 17 years of age have Tourette’s syndrome, with as many as 1 in 100 people exhibiting milder symptoms of the condition.

Tourette’s syndrome is one of the most severe forms of tic syndrome. Some of the most common tics include sniffing, grunting, blinking, throat clearing, shoulder movements, and head movements. Tics are divided into simple ticks - brief, sudden and repetitive tics involving a limited number of muscle groups - and complex tics, which may use several muscle groups. 

Risk factors associated with Tourette’s syndrome include a family history of the condition or similar disorders and gender - men are more likely to develop Tourette syndrome than women. Other conditions associated with Tourette syndrome include attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), autism, depression, and anxiety disorders. 

Tourette’s syndrome is usually treated with a combination of therapy, such as behavior therapy and psychotherapy, and medication. Drug classes used to treat Tourette’s syndrome include first generation antipsychotics, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressants, SSRIs, psychostimulants, methylphenidate derivatives and certain other anti-migraine drugs.