EPPP Abnormal Psychology Practice Exam 2025 - Free Abnormal Psychology Practice Questions and Study Guide

Tourette's Disorder is characterized by the presence of multiple motor tics and vocal tics that persist for more than a year. Tics are involuntary, rapid movements or sounds, and they can be either simple (involving a single muscle group) or complex (involving a combination of movements or sounds). In Tourette's Disorder, these tics generally appear in childhood, often between the ages of 5 and 10, and they may wax and wane in severity over time.

The disorder is distinguished from other tic disorders by the presence of both motor and vocal tics. This dual presentation is a key criterion for diagnosis, as many other disorders do not address both types of tics or do not meet the duration requirement of at least one year. Thus, Tourette's Disorder specifically encapsulates the defining elements of having a combination of these tics over an extended time period, which solidifies its diagnostic criteria in the field of abnormal psychology.