Tourette syndrome

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Hi everyone, anyone got ideas on TCM treatment for tourette syndrome

TOURETTE SYNDROME

Gilles de la Tourette Syndrome

 

This is a condition characterised by multiple tics. Tics are

involuntary twitch-like movements involving groups of muscles. In

this syndrome, tics characteristically involve the facial area (e.g.

blinking, grimacing, nodding) as well as phonic (vocal) tics,

although any area can be involved. The tics range from very simple to

more complex, purposeful movements. Vocal tics can be as simple as

throat clearing or coughing. Tics can be suppressed for a short time

and so, for example, the condition may appear different at school

compared to home. The onset of the symptoms is usually between the

ages of 5-11 with a maximum starting age of 21. There is a very wide

range of severity so that many people with the condition may never

need to seek medical attention whilst others have a socially

disabling condition.

 

Common associations of the syndrome are Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

or Behaviour (OCD/OCB) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

(ADHD) (see separate entry.) In some cases echolalia (the repetition

of phrases, or mimicking of gestures) may be present. A relatively

rare feature in more severe cases is coprolalia (the involuntary use

of obscene or offensive words) or copropraxia (the involuntary making

of obscene gestures.)

 

Symptoms may occur and disappear, increase or decrease in severity,

or new symptoms may arise. In some cases remissions occur. It is

thought that Tourette Syndrome often decreases in severity around or

after adolescence although it can be a lifelong condition. The

incidence of the syndrome is three to four times greater in males

than females.

 

Inheritance patterns

It is thought that in about 90% of cases the condition runs in the

family, although other family members may have a mild, barely

noticeable disorder. The wide range of features has made it difficult

to definitively define the genetic inheritance although the autosomal

dominant with incomplete penetrance model has been used. That is,

each pregnancy has a 1 in 2 chance of an affected gene with many such

cases not manifesting the condition.

 

Environmental factors also play a part with possible interactions

with a perinatal insult - for example, a birth trauma such as anoxia

(lack of oxygen). This area is being further investigated.

 

Mild cases may not need to be treated. There is no cure but many of

the symptoms such as OCD and ADHD can be helped with medication.

 

Pre-natal diagnosis

None. Genetic linkage studies are under way and there have been some

preliminary results, which may apply to only a proportion of

cases/families. There currently is no way of predicting whether a

child will be affected and, if so, how severely.

 

Medical text last updated March 2001 by Dr J Stern, Specialist

Registrar in Neurology, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK.

 

Further Online Resources

Medical texts in The Contact a Family Directory are designed to give

a short, clear description of specific conditions and rare disorders.

More extensive information on this condition can be found on a range

of reliable, validated web sites and links to them are included in

the CD-ROM version of this Directory. Further information on these

resources can be found in our Medical Information on the Internet

article.