Terms Of Tourette Syndrome

What is 'compulsion' in relation to Tourette syndrome?

People with Tourette syndrome may have obsessive-compulsive symptoms as a manifestation of Tourette syndrome and compulsions are a need to do things, for example, repetitively, that are not necessarily productive or something that the person wants to do or is exactly willing themselves to do. Compulsive touching, for example, or compulsive counting - compulsive behavior can be an associated symptom of Tourette syndrome and this can show itself in the form of repetitive activities including things like touching or hand washing or the need to check is the door locked at night, more than once, for example - or is the iron turned off, more than once - or is the stove turned off, more than once.

What is 'obsession' in relation to Tourette syndrome?

Obsession' or obsessive behavior with relation to Tourette syndrome can include symptoms such as thinking about the same topic over and over repetitively, to the point that it's distracting, or troubling to the person who has it, thinking sinister thoughts, or frightening thoughts over and over, in a way that is unusual, and disruptive to the person's daily routine.

What is 'coprolalia', and how does it relate to Tourette syndrome?

Coprolalia is one of the symptoms that sometimes occurs in Tourette's syndrome, but not in the majority of cases. But this is the symptom that many people know about in association with Tourette's, and this is the uttering of obscenities, or foul language, which is, again, a vocal tic, in a sense. But the majority of people with Tourette's syndrome don't have this type of symptom, even though it's well-known in the public eye.

What is 'dyskinesia', and how does it relate to Tourette syndrome?

Dyskinesia's a term that simple refers to abnormal involuntary movement. That can be a tic for example. A motor tic is an example of an abnormal involuntary movement. Tics, by the way, are repetitive, so called "stereotypical" movements. They are usually very quick in their appearance and affect the same body part over and over and over again, the same kind of movement.

What is 'echolalia' in relation to Tourette syndrome?

Echolalia is repitition of sounds and words that the patient may hear from somebody else. It does occur in some people with Tourette syndrome, not the majority. It's also a symptom of some other neurological disorders such as Parkinson's disease, or Parkinsonian-type syndromes, people with that type of disorder may also sometimes have echolalia.

What is 'echopraxia' in relation to Tourette syndrome?

Echophraxia is a repetition of movements that one sees somebody else perform. This does occur in Tourette syndrome. Sometimes people with Tourette's will see another person with a tic and sort of absorb that tic into themselves. It has been known to occur. It's kind of weird because people who bring in their kids don't want to demonstrate the tics because they're afraid the kid will pick it up and start doing it. That's echophraxia. People tell you, “I saw somebody do this, and now I can't stop doing this.” It's like the tic has touched them and they can't shake it. So I try not to demonstrate tics to my patients because I don't want them to pick it up.

What is 'arithmomania' in relation to Tourettes syndrome?

This is obsessive counting that some people may be afflicted with. For example, riding in a car, they may be counting the trees that go by, and not really doing it because they enjoy doing it but because they feel compelled to do that.

What is 'akathisia' in relation to Tourettes syndrome?

Akathisia is a restlessness, usually medication induced. Some of the medications that are used to treat Tourettes are responsible for creating akathisia.

What is 'palilalia' in relation to Tourette syndrome?

Palilalia is the repetition of the same word over and over and over such as "Yes doctor. Yes doctor. Yes doctor. Yes doctor" That occurs in some patients with Tourettes. It occurs again in other neurological disorders such as Parkinson's disease and related syndromes. Another disorder is aggressive sub nuclear palsy which may show evidence of palilalia.

What is a 'neurotransmitter'?

A neurotransmitter is a brain chemical that we all have. There are several types actually, but these chemicals are released typically from one brain cell, a neuron, and then captured by another. It's a means for one brain cell to communicate or talk with another.

What is 'dopamine' in relation to Tourette syndrome?

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter, it's a normal occuring brain chemical found in everybody's brain and it is one of the substances that the brain uses to talk with itself, to send a message from one part of the brain to another. Its role in Tourette's is not entirely clear, but it's been identified for quite some time that medications that alter the transmission of dopamine, particularly medications that perhaps block the transmission of dopamine, may help alleviate some of the symptoms, including the motor ticks and perhaps vocal ticks as well.

What is 'seratonin' in relation to Tourette syndrome?

Serotonin is another naturally occurring brain chemical. It's a neurotransmitter and may play a role in some of the obsessive compulsive behaviors or symptoms that are found in Tourette syndrome. Medications that modify serotonin transmission are sometimes used to treat the obsessive compulsive symptoms in Tourette syndrome.

What is 'tardive dyskinesia'?

Tardive dyskinesia simply refers to involuntary movements that are produced by medications. Usually these are along the lines of psychiatric medications; Haldol or Thorazine are examples of this. Occasionally medications that create tardive dyskinesia are anti-nausea or gastrointestinal medications. These medications would include things like Metoclopramide also called Reglan or another anti-nausea medication called Compazine. These medications have in common that they block Dopamine in the brain, and by doing so, certain people may illicit involuntary movements as a consequence. One type of tardive dyskinesia which is unusual is tardive tick. So that people who are exposed to these medications, instead having these wriggling or squirming type movements which we think of more classically as being tardive dyskinisia, they may have the emergence of tick like symptoms.

What is 'trichotilomania'?

This refers to repetitive pulling of hair. One of my patients with a tick for example, repetitively pulls at her eyelashes, to the extent that it's abnormal and actually is pulling her eyelashes out. It's in my experience, not a common phenomenon within patients with Tourette's syndrome or with a tick, but it does occur.