Touretts Syndrome

[logcabinmama]

I had never heard of this until on the Dr. Phil program. Or I think that is the one I heard about it on.

 

Oprah will be talking about it tomorrow, November 8th, I heard.

 

You can find the following and more about Touretts Syndrome at:

 

http://members.tripod.com/~tourette13/

 

 

Tourette Syndrome (TS) is a neurological disorder characterized by tics -- involuntary, rapid, sudden movements or vocalizations that occur repeatedly in the same way. Diagnostic criteria include:

 

Both multiple motor and one or more vocal tics present at some time, although not necessarily simultaneously;

The occurrence of tics many times a day (usually in bouts) nearly every day or intermittently throughout the span of more than one year;

Periodic changes in the number, frequency, type and location of the tics, and in the waxing and waning of their severity. Symptoms can sometimes disappear for weeks or months at a time;

Onset before the age of 18.

 

Although the word "involuntary" is used to describe the nature of the tics, this is not entirely accurate. It would not be true to say that people with TS have absolutely no control over their tics, as though it was some type of spasm; rather, a more appropriate term would be "compelling." People with TS feel an irresistable urge to perform their tics, much like the need to scratch a mosquito bite. Some people with TS are able to hold back their tics for up to hours at a time, but this only leads to a stronger outburst of tics once they are finally allowed to be expressed.

Although the DSM-IV has recently changed the upper age of onset from 21 down to 18, the Tourette Syndrome Association Medical Advisory Board is working to have it reverted back to 21, as is listed in the DSM-III-R.

Coprolalia (see below) does not have to be exclusively swear words. Many times coprolalia manifests itself as socially inappropriate or unacceptable words or phrases, such as the overwhelming urge to use a racial epithet, even though that is the last thing you want to do. Something about the "forbiddenness" of it impells a person with coprolalia to say it, seemingly against their will.

Another important thing to remember about coprolalia is that although this symptom has been sensationalized by the media, it is actually rare, occuring in less than 30% of people who have a severe case.

 

Simple tics are movements or vocalizations which are completely meaningless, whereas complex tics are movements or vocalizations which make use of more than one muscle group or apear to be meaningful.

 

The range of tics or tic-like symptoms that can be seen in TS is very broad. The complexity of some symptoms is often perplexing to family members, friends, teachers and employers who may find it hard to believe that the actions or vocal utterances are not deliberate.

 

For a list of symptoms organized in their respective categories, please click here.

 

Research is ongoing, but it is believed that an abnormal metabolism of the neurotransmitters dopamine and serotonin are involved with the disorder. It is genetically transmitted; parents having a 50% chance of passing the gene on to their children. Girls with the gene have a 70% chance of displaying symptoms, boys with the gene have a 99% chance of displaying symptoms.

 

Yes. People with TS are more likely to have any combination of the following problems:

 

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

 

Difficulties with Impulse Control (disinhibition)

 

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

 

Various Learning Disabilities (such as dyslexia)

 

Various Sleep Disorders

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More is found at:

 

http://www.tsa-usa.org/

 

What is Tourette Syndrome?

 

Frequently Asked Questions

A Glossary of Terms

 

"Making Sense of Tourette's"

Science Magazine's September 2004 Article

features Peter Hollenbeck, Ph.D.,

TSA Scientific Advisory Board Co-Chair

(Adobe Acrobat™ format)

 

Tourette Syndrome Gilles de la Tourette syndrome (Tourette Syndrome or TS) is a neurological disorder which becomes evident in early childhood or adolescence between the ages of 2 and 15. Tourette syndrome is defined by multiple motor and vocal tics lasting for more than one year. Many people have only motor tics or only vocal tics. The first symptoms usually are involuntary movements (tics) of the face, arms, limbs or trunk. These tics are frequent, repetitive and rapid. The most common first symptom is a facial tic (eye blink, nose twitch, grimace), and is replaced or added to by other tics of the neck, trunk, and limbs.

 

These involuntary (outside the patient's control) tics may also be complicated, involving the entire body, such as kicking and stamping. Many person report what are described as premonitory urges -- the urge to perform a motor activity. Other symptoms such as touching, repetitive thoughts and movements and compulsions can occur.

 

There are also verbal tics. These verbal tics (vocalizations) usually occur with the movements; later they may replace one or more motor tics. These vocalizations include grunting, throat clearing, shouting and barking. The verbal tics may also be expressed as coprolalia (the involuntary use of obscene words or socially inappropriate words and phrases) or copropraxia (obscene gestures). Despite widespread publicity, coprolalia/copropraxia is uncommon with tic disorders.

 

Neither echolalia (echo speech) or coprolalia/copropraxia is necessary for the diagnosis of Tourette syndrome. All patients have involuntary movements and some have vocalizations. Echo phenomena are also reported, although less frequently. These may include repeating word of others (echolalia), repeating ones own words (palilalia), and repeating movements of others.

 

Although the symptoms of TS vary from person to person and range from very mild to severe, the majority of cases fall into the mild category. Associated conditions can include attentional problems (ADHD/ADD, impulsiveness (and oppositional defiant disorder), obsessional compulsive behavior, and learning disabilities. There is usually a family history of tics, Tourette Syndrome, ADHD, OCD. Tourette Syndrome and other tic disorders occur in all ethnic groups. Males are affected 3 to 4 times more often than females.

 

Most people with TS and other tic disorders will lead productive lives. There are no barriers to achievement in their personal and professional lives. Person with TS can be found in all professions. A goal of TSA is to educate both patients and the public of the many facets of tic disorders. Increased public understanding and tolerance of TS symptoms are of paramount importance to people with Tourette Syndrome.

The disorder was named for a French neuropsychiatrist who successfully assessed the disorder in the late 1800's:

 

Georges Gilles de la Tourette

Georges Gilles de la Tourette (born Georges Albert Edouard Brutus Gilles de la Tourette!) in 1857 was a French physician (today he would be described as a neurologist) who made several valuable contributions to medicine and literature. The first reported case of Tourette syndrome was by another French doctor named Itard in 1825. Dr. Itard described the case of Marquise de Dampierre, a woman of nobility who was quite an important person in her time. In 1885 Dr. de la Tourette described nine patients with the syndrome of multiple motor and vocal tics. His major contribution was to define these patients as having a movement disorder that now bears his name.

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If this has helped anyone, that will be good, thanks for reading this post.

 

 

[Guest Guest]

I've only had one experience with, and it was pretty violent. I was taking a computer class at the Community College, and in the middle of a lecture one of the students freaked out and started swearing, and pacing back and forth. He finally left the room and continued in the hallway, and the instructor explained that the student had warned him about his condition at the start of the sememster, and to not try to restrain him if he had an episode. It was scary, but after knowing what was going on, I felt really bad for the student. After awhile he came back into the classroom looking really embarrassed, and apologized. What a difficult disorder that has to be to live with...but that young man handled it with a lot of class.

[Freetobeme]

On of my students had it. He was a sweet kid, just had tourettes and OCD.