Tourette Syndrome Through the Ages: A Historical and Contemporary Overview.

This article provides a comprehensive overview of Tourette syndrome (TS) and persistent tic disorders (PTDs), neurodevelopmental conditions characterized by multiple motor and vocal tics lasting at least one year. It traces the historical evolution of TS from early misattributions to demonic possession to its formal clinical characterization in the late 19th century and the shift toward neurobiological understanding in the 1960s. The article reviews current knowledge on TS’s clinical features, diagnostic criteria, etiology involving cortico-striatal-thalamic circuit dysfunction, and treatment options including FDA-approved medications and behavioral therapies like Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics (CBIT). It also highlights ongoing challenges such as underdiagnosis, stigma, social determinants affecting diagnosis and care, and the need for expanded research, advocacy, and improved access to multidisciplinary treatments.