Review article
Gilles de la Tourette’s syndrome – a challenge for medicine and neuropsychology. Diagnosis, neuropsychological characteristics and possibilities of therapy

Although the concept of Gilles de la Tourette’s syndrome has been present in the literature since the 19th century, it continues to evolve and it has remained a challenge for contemporary science, including neurology, neurosurgery, psychiatry, psychology and genetics. This illness is characterized by a wide range of symptoms, from motor and vocal tics to impairment of attention and executive functions. The aetiology is complex; the relationship with the genetic dysfunction of the subcortical structures is stressed. The medical treatment is multidisciplinary – surgical, pharmacological and behavioural – and its main goal is to limit the most burdensome symptoms of the illness. The proper diagnosis and treatment has to improve the quality of life and social functioning, but it is still a very difficult task that needs systemizing, which is the main goal of this article. To achieve this goal we made a review of the articles in electronic medical databases (2000-2010).

The article contains a description of Gilles de la Tourette’s syndrome, including the diagnostic dilemmas, the characteristics of comorbid psychiatric dysfunctions, the characteristics of neuropsychological impairment and analysis of the form of treatment: pharmacological and behavioural.