Tourette's syndrome brochure

Managing... with Tourette’s syndrome Treatment focuses on identifying and helping the individual manage the most troubling or impairing symptoms.

Most cases are mild so they don’t require pharmaceutical treatment; instead, psychobehavioral therapy, education, and reassurance may be sufficient in order to ameliorate depression and social isolation and to improve family support.

Medication is available to help when symptoms interfere with functioning Several studies show that the condition in most children improves with maturity Tics may often get improved with understanding of the condition by individuals and their families and friends

Stavros Niiarchos Foundation Learning Center

Program Director: Christiana Perakis Evloyia

E-mail: perakisc@acs.gr

Address:129 Aghias Paraskevis & Nikou Kazantzaki St,, 152 34 Halandri, Athens

Tourette’s Syndrome

Tel: 210 6393200 ext 237, 265 Fax: 210 6390051

Stavros Niiarchos Foundation Pocket Guide

Diagnosis Characteristics •

Definition Tourette’s Syndrome is an inherited neurological disorder with onset in childhood, characterized by the presence of multiple physical (motor) tics and at least one vocal (phonic) tic.

Tourette’s is defined as a part of a spectrum of tic George Gilles de la Tourette disorders which include (1859-1904) transient and chronic tics.

The exact cause of Tourette’s syndrome is unknown, but it’s well established that both genetic and environmental factors are involved. Genetics studies have proved that the overwhelming majority of cases of Tourette’s are inherited, although the exact mode of inheritance is not yet known and no gene has been identified.

Tics are movements and sounds that “occur intermittently out of a normal backround motor activity” having the appearance of “normal behaviors gone wrong”.

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The most common initial motor and vocal tics are respectively, eye blinking and throat clearing.

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Most individuals describe the need to sneeze or scratch an itch.

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Other symptoms can be described by the spontaneous utterance of socially objectionable or taboo words or phrases (coprolalia), or by repeating the words of others (echolalia) or by repeating one’s own words (palilalia).

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Individuals describe the need to tic as a buildup of tension which they consciously choose to release as if they “had to do it”.

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A TS ‘ Disorder when a person exhibits both multiple motor and one or more vocal tics over the period of a year, with no more than three consecutive tic-free months.

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There are no specific medical or screening tests that can be used in diagnosing Tourette’s. It is frequently misdiagnosed or underdiagnosed, partly because of the wide expression of severity, ranging from mild or moderate to severe.

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The diagnosis is made based on observation of the individual’s symptoms family history, and after ruling out secondary causes of tic disorders.

RANGE OF SYMPTOMS

Motor; simple tics; fast, darting and meaningless complex: slower,may appear purposeful Vocal;simple: meaningless sounds and noises complex: linguistically meaningful utterances such as words and phrases Behavioral & Developmental: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, obsessions and compulsions, emotional ability, irritability, impulsitivity, aggressitivity, selfinjurious behaviors :varied Learning Disabilities