Transcript Tourette Syndrome

TOURETTE’S
SYNDROME
By: Kathryn Wrightsman
SYNDROME
 Gilles
de la Tourette Syndrome (Tourette Syndrome
or TS) is a neurological disorder that becomes
noticeable in early childhood.
 Tourette Syndrome is characterized by persistent
motor and vocal tics lasting over one year. Tics are
involuntary movements of the face, arms, and legs.
Vocal tics usually occur with the motor tics and
include, grunting, barking, and shouting.
 TS cases range from severe to mild, but most cases
fall into the mild category.
 (Tourette’s Syndrome Association)
THE COURSE OF TOURETTE’S
SYNDROME
HISTORY
 The
first presentation of Tourette’s Syndrome is said
to be in a 1489 book, “Malleus Maleficarium”. The
book describes a priest whose frequent tics were
blamed on the devil.
 Jean Marc Gaspard Itard reported the first case of
Tourette’s Syndrome in 1825.
 After this diagnosis, Georges Albet Edourard Brutus
Gilles de la Tourette, a French physician and
neurologist, was assigned to study patients.
 In 1885 Gilles de la Tourette published his study,
identifying these symptoms as a new disease, later
being names Tourette’s Syndrome.
DIAGNOSIS
No substantial diagnosis can be done using only tics.
Sometimes tics come and go, but if they regulary appear
throughout a one year period, then a diagnosis of TS
among other diseases. (MedicineNet)
 Blood tests do not help diagnose Tourette’s Syndrome,
but neurological tests can be done. (MedicineNet)
 Tourette’s Syndrome is most commonly misdiagnosed
and mistaken for severve cases of ADHD and OCD.
(Tourette’s Syndrome Association)

TRANSMISSION
Studies show that there is a 8.7 percent chance of
directly inheriting the Tourette’s gene from a parent.
There is up to a 2 percent chance of inheriting
Tourette’s from another relative.
 Analysises of pedigrees have supported transmission
though an incompletely penetrant autosomal dominant
gene if the phenotype is classified as TS only, not TS or
CT or OCD.
 Many cases of TS have also been linked to chromosomal
abnormalitites , including deletion.
 (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and
Stroke)

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
Signs- Verbal and Motor tics that persist for more than
a year. Verbal tics are screaming, barking, moaning,
grunting, and sniffing. Though heftily portrayed in the
media, the use of profane language is rare.
 Syptoms- Tourette’s Syndrome has few side effects that
are only known to the patient. The patient is aware that
they are having a tic, contrary to some beliefs.
(Tourette’s Syndrome Association)

EVALUATION
TREATMENT
There is no cure for Tourette’s and no universal
medication that works for all individuals who have TS.
 The most successful classes of medication for TS are
typical and atypical neuroleptics, antihypertensive
agents, and some stimulants. Tics are most commonly
treated with antpsychotics which work by blocking
dopamine receptors.
 Behavioral treatments include Habit Reversal Training,
relaxation, and hypnosis and are considered more
positive approaches to TS treatment.
 Procedures involving Nicotine and Deep Brain
Stimulation have been tried, but are still considered
experimental in the treatment of TS.
 (Tourette’s Syndrome Association)

REFRENCE

Tourette Syndrome Association. (2010). What is Tourette
Syndrome? Web. Retrieved May 2010, from http://www.tsausa.org/Medical/whatists.html
Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.
(2010). Diagnosis. Web. Retrieved May 2010, from
http://www.mayoclinic.org/tourettesyndrome/diagnosis.html
MedicineNet. (2010). Tourette Syndrome. Web. Retrieved
May 2010, from
http://www.medicinenet.com/tourette_syndrome/page3.htm
Health Grades Inc. (2010). Symptoms of Tourette Syndrome.
Wed. Retrieved May 2010, from
http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/t/tourette_syndrome/sympt
oms.htm#symptom_list