To the Editor.—
The article describing clinical experience with clonidine hydrochloride as an alternative to haloperidol for the treatment of Gilles de la Tourette syndrome (TS) (Archives 1980;37:1350-1357), as well as the genetic and biochemical studies emanating from the Yale group, is a substantial contribution to the literature. However, we believe that several issues raised in this article warrant discussion.Gilles de la Tourette syndrome is defined by the authors as a "severe neuropsychiatric syndrome of childhood onset and lifelong duration that consists of multiform motor and phonic tics and other behavioral and psychological symptoms." It is conceptualized as a neuropsychiatric dysfunction that affects the regulation of impulses, thoughts, motor activities, speech, and complex actions... a disorder of psychomotor inhibition with a more or less pervasive impact and with varied and individualistic symptom profiles ranging from chronic tics through disabling compulsions, irritability, and attentional and learning difficulties, as well as