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We studied 58 adults with Gilles de la Tourette's syndrome diagnosed during childhood.Tics persisted in all patients but were moderate/severe in only 24%,compared with 60%at the time of worst function.Coprolalia persisted in 4%,compared with 22%at the time of worst function.For most patients,worst function occurred in adolescence(mode=13 years).In spite of a high frequency of school and behavioral problems during development,98% graduated high school and 90%were full-time students or fully employed. Features predictive of mild tic severity in adulthood were mild tics during the patient's worst pre-adulthood function and mild tics during early and late adolescence.Childhood tic severity had no predictive value, and likewise,coprolalia during development did not increase the risk for adult moderate/severe tics. |
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