In contrast to the lifelong persistence of symptoms characteristic of
Gilles de la Tourette's syndrome, multiple
tic of childhood is considered to be a self-limited disorder that remits by early adulthood. We describe four patients who had a history of multiple
tic of childhood, complete absence of
tics throughout most of their adult lives, and recurrence of
tics in late adult life. All four had multiple
tics that began before the age of 9 years and included both motor and
vocal tics that changed in location and severity over time. None of the patients exhibited coprolalia. All
tics subsided before the age of 20 years, only to recur after the age of 60 years, once again including both motor and
vocal tics that changed in location and severity slowly over time. The one patient who was severely bothered by the recurrence of motor and
vocal tics responded well to
haloperidol. Although they do not fit into any accepted diagnostic category for multiple
tic, these patients suggest that multiple
tic of childhood can recur in adult life. This suggests that
Gilles de la Tourette's syndrome may be a continuum for chronic multiple
tic of childhood to full-blown classic
Gilles de la Tourette's syndrome.