Tourette's syndrome in children: neurological, neuropsychological and psychiatric issues.

The interplay between neurologic, neuropsychologic and psychiatric features makes Tourette's syndrome (TS) a paradigmatic model for neuropsychiatric disorders. The aim of this paper is to review this complex interplay of clinical features. After a survey of some epidemiological studies, the natural history of neurological, behavioral and psychological characteristics of the syndrome is described. The problem of high psychiatric comorbidity, firstly with obsessive-compulsive disorder and attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder, is discussed. Neuropsychological features of TS are considered, as they can negatively affect the quality of life of affected patients. Considerations on treatment, pharmacologic as well as educational and psychotherapeutic, conclude this review.