Tourettes Syndrome

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Tourettes Syndrome is a neurological illness, which usually begins during childhood. This disorder is distinctive due to quick, sudden movements that an individual makes but is unable to control. The earliest signs of Tourettes Syndrome are small, recurrent movements known as tics, which most commonly occur in the eyes, nose, arms, face and limbs. Tourettes Syndrome is usually diagnosed if these rapid movements continue for a year or more.

More noticeable cases of this disorder can include much larger movements, sometimes involving the whole body and also verbal tics. Verbal outbursts commonly occur alongside the physical movements, including mumbling sounds, sudden shouting, barking and even Coprolalia. Coprolalia is the most socially upsetting symptom of tourettes syndrome and involves the use of obscene words or phrases, however the sufferer is unable to control his or her outbursts. Coprolalia only occurs in approximately 5 - 15% of sufferers but is the most well known symptom of tourettes. This is thought to be due to representations of sufferers in the media and the way they are perceived in TV shows and films.

Symptoms:

  • Small rapid movements (motor tics), eg. blinking, facial expressions and head or shoulder jerking
  • Simple vocalizations (vocal tics), eg. continuous throat-clearing, sniffing and grunting
  • Complex motor tics involving larger movements or a combination
  • Complex vocal tics involving words and phrases
  • Coprolalia (rare outburst of swear words)
  • Head banging, lip biting and eye poking are more self-destructive symptoms

Common Associated Conditions:

  • Echolalia (repeating other's words)
  • Echopraxia (repeating other's actions)
  • Palilalia (repeating your own words or thoughts)
  • Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
  • Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
  • Learning disabilities
  • Short temper or mood swings

Causes:

Unfortunately there is no one cause of Tourettes Syndrome therefore there is no cure for the disorder. There are a number of factors that are thought to influence the development of the illness which are listed below.

Genetic Factors

  • Research has shown that there is a 50% chance of a parent with tourettes passing the gene on to their child.
  • This doesn't however mean the child will suffer from tourettes syndrome, it could mean they inherit a mild tic disorder or an obsessive disorder.
  • Research indicated that in Tourettes Syndrome, there is an imbalance of several neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine, which are chemicals in the brain that carry signals to nerve cells.

Gender Factors

  • With this particular illness it is three times more likely for a son to inherit the disorder than the daughter of a person with tourettes syndrome. However, only a small percentage of children who inherit the gene will ever have to seek medical help.

Other factors

  • Emotional or physical health
  • Stress

Treatment:

Individuals with mild symptoms don't often need medication, but if the tics are moderate to severe and interfere with the normal functioning of their everyday life, treatment is often required. The treatments available at the moment do not completely eliminate Tourette syndrome, however they can make life a lot more manageable.

Counselling and psychotherapy can also be effective ways of helping the sufferer; although this is not a psychological disorder, sessions can help the individual cope with additional social and emotional issues that the illness can cause.

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This content is provided for general information only, and should not be treated as a substitute for the advice given by any professional.