Tics and Tourette’s Syndrome

While many people live with Tourette’s with no clinical intervention at all, others feel that they need help and support to understand and manage the condition. Sometimes, but not invariably, people with Tourette’s also have other conditions, such as Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) or Attention Deficient Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Often, the stress associated with having the condition is worse than the actual symptoms, as people can feel ashamed and embarrassed about behaviours that they cannot control and may even feel obliged to remove themselves from the company of others periodically so that they can allow themselves to express their tics in private. Having an assessment provides people with greater understanding of their condition, and with a treatment plan in place, sufferers often find that the reduced stress results in an amelioration of symptoms relatively quickly.

While various approaches to managing tics are available, Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Tics (CBIT) and medication has been proven to be of great assistance to many people. It is important to recognise that CBIT is not a cure, but rather a management strategy. The three components of CBIT are as follows:

• Educating the client to be more aware of their tics and when they have an urge to tic.
• Educating clients to find an alternative behaviour when they feel the urge to tic.
• Changing lifestyle habits in ways that support the reduction of tics.

Although tics are neurological by nature, they can also be exacerbated by environment; some people find they tic more in certain situations, and conversely, that they tic less in others. CBIT also offers skills on how to create environments that are more stable, predictable and manageable.

We understand that tics and Tourette’s syndrome can be difficult to live with, and having an assessment can begin the process of understanding your experiences, and seeking out the help you require. Our neuropsychologist, Dr Letizia de Mori, can offer a Initial assessment and preliminary clinical opinion session which consists of a 90 minute session to conduct her own observations, as well as explore the client’s symptoms and developmental history through a clinical interview. From this observation, Letizia can provide a temporary diagnosis of Tourette’s syndrome if appropriate (which can be reflected in a short report/certificate). This diagnosis would be temporary in order to guide further investigation.

From the Initial assessment and preliminary clinical opinion, Letizia would recommend specific blood tests in order to further investigate possible causes of the client’s tics. This is due to the fact that Tourette’s can sometimes be a reflection of syndromes such as PANDAS or Klinefelter Syndrome. She may also suggest some other examinations in order to investigate symptom severity. Letizia can then review the additional examinations and provide a more stable diagnosis.

If you would like to talk to someone about tics or Tourette’s please get in touch with the Private Therapy Clinic on Whatsapp message at: +447511116565 email, chat bot or book online to arrange an appointment.

CBIT, HRT, habit reversal therapy, behavior therapy. (n.d.). Tourette Association of America. Link

Leckman JF, Bloch MH, King RA, Scahill L. “Phenomenology of tics and natural history of tic disorders”. Adv Neurol. 2006;99: pp. 1–16.

Peterson BS, Cohen DJ. “The treatment of Tourette’s Syndrome: multimodal, developmental intervention”. J Clin Psychiatry. 1998;59 Suppl 1: pp 62–72.