Tourette syndrome (TS) is a brain-based condition marked by sudden, rapid movements and sounds that happen over and over—what we call tics. What makes tics unique is how consistent they are: they often look and sound the same each time they happen. Despite affecting about 1% of children, making it fairly common, TS remains widely misunderstood.
A common idea is that people with TS swear a lot. While vocal tics that involve swearing are part of some people’s lived experience, they actually happen in fewer than 10% of cases. For many, tics are mild. For others, the impact is severe and debilitating. What doesn’t change: the urge to tic is involuntary and the tic serves no external purpose, even if it looks intentional.
The OCD Connection
What’s less known is how often TS happens alongside Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder—commonly known as OCD. About 50% of children diagnosed with TS will also have symptoms of OCD. Other conditions that commonly show up together include ADHD, mood and anxiety disorders, and oppositional defiant disorder.
OCD shows up through obsessions—thoughts, urges, or images that keep coming back, are unwanted, and very hard to control. These can range from small worries (Did I leave the door unlocked?) to deeply upsetting thoughts of violence or sex. The anxiety they create is intense. Compulsions are the actions or rituals people do over and over, trying to ease or stop that anxiety: cleaning, washing, checking, counting.
Where They Overlap
TS and OCD share overlapping symptoms that sometimes make it hard to diagnose each condition separately, which shows how closely related they are. Some TS repetitive behaviors closely resemble OCD compulsions, while people with OCD can exhibit tics. Sometimes OCD compulsions can look like tics and, like TS tics, aren’t triggered by anxious thoughts but rather by physical sensations or urges.
This includes the “just right” feeling—the need to perform an action until it feels complete or correct. Other sensations include isolated physical tension and psychological distress. Notably, people with TS or TS + OCD are more likely to experience these physical urges than those with OCD alone.
Both conditions can also be triggered by similar factors: stressful situations, tiredness, and strong emotions.
TS and OCD at Work
Many children with TS and OCD grow into working adults who bring unique strengths to the workplace. Statistics Canada’s Canadian Community Health Survey shows that adults with TS face higher unemployment rates and lower incomes than the general population.
When employers understand these aren’t “bad behaviors” but neurological differences, and when reasonable support is provided, people with TS and OCD succeed at work.
As research advances, we hope to better understand what makes TS + OCD different from OCD on its own. This knowledge will be crucial for developing more targeted treatments and support strategies.
