For severe, disabling tics that have not responded to medication and behavioral therapy, deep brain stimulation can reduce their frequency and intensity.
Tourette syndrome is a neurodevelopmental condition defined by repeated, involuntary movements and sounds called tics, often alongside OCD or attention difficulties. Most cases improve with age and respond to treatment, but a minority have severe, persistent tics that are physically and socially disabling. The tics arise from dysregulation of the circuits linking the cortex, basal ganglia, and thalamus that normally regulate movement and habit.
First-line care is medication and behavioral therapy (comprehensive behavioral intervention for tics). Surgery is reserved for adults with severe, treatment-resistant tics that remain disabling despite these measures, selected through a multidisciplinary process and in line with established guidelines.
Benefit is judged by the reduction in tic severity on standardized scales, and stimulation settings are optimized over months in partnership with the treating neurologist or psychiatrist. DBS for Tourette is a specialized treatment offered in experienced centers and, in many settings, within a research framework.