Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation has no effect on tics in patients with Gilles de la Tourette syndrome

Background: Gilles de la Tourette syndrome (GTS) is characterised by chronic motor and phonic tics with onset usually in childhood. Imaging studies and neurophysiological data indicate cortical hyperexcitability including the pre-motor cortex. A previous study showed no effect of rTMS given to the left pre-motor cortex. We tested whether longer trains (1800 stimuli) of 1Hz pre-motor cortex repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation at 80% of active motor threshold given to both hemispheres could improve tic severity in GTS patients. Material and methods: The study included 5 patients with a DSM-IV diagnosis of…