At the end of the 19th century, the French physician Gilles de la Tourette made a report on 9 of his patients suffering from a strange and unresponsive disease. All patients complained of uncontrollable swearing, shouting of involuntary words and sounds, and some of them suffered from very specific tics. Patients spontaneously jumped up, clapped their hands or hit their heads on nearby surfaces. What is Tourette's Syndrome? Is it a disease or an obsession?
What is Tourette's Syndrome?
Despite the fact that the syndrome received its own name only in the 19th century, the description of the disease first appeared in the distant 1486, when a priest with motor and vocal tics was described in the book "The Hammer of the Witches". Modern psychotherapists describe Tourette's syndrome as a condition that is characterized by certain involuntary actions on the part of the patient. So, the first signs of the presence of the disease can appear even in early childhood, when the child, absolutely unexpectedly for the parents, begins to shout swear words, scream, hiss or clatter his tongue, while remaining outwardly and mentally healthy.
According to modern terminology, Tourette's syndrome refers to a neuropsychiatric disease that affects approximately 10 children out of 1000. The causes of the unusual disease have not yet been clarified, but there are several hypotheses that predict the presence of the disease in a family member.
Why does Tourette's syndrome occur?
There are several hypotheses as to why the development of Tourette's syndrome may occur. So, one of the main reasons is the genetic factor. According to the researchers, the disorder most often affects children whose parents themselves suffered or suffer from involuntary tics.
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People with Tourette's syndrome often lose control of their speech.
In addition, scientists also identify autoimmune and neuroanatomical causes. In the first case, the pathology arises as a result of any past disease caused by streptococcal bacteria. In the second case, doctors deal with the pathology of the brain, caused by metabolic disorders or exposure to psychotropic drugs.
Can Tourette Syndrome be Cured?
Despite the fact that it is impossible to completely cure Tourette's syndrome, there are special psychotherapeutic practices aimed at relieving the symptoms of the disease
Researchers believe that before the onset of an attack, the patient experiences intense tension and stress that has no external cause. Before the onset of tics, the patient often has a desire to cough up, remove a speck from the eye, or make any involuntary movement that helps to eliminate internal tension. Despite the fact that the disease cannot be completely cured at present, there are special practices in psychotherapy that can reduce the number and intensity of attacks, as well as recognize the moment of their onset.
In addition, at present, it is Tourette's syndrome that is beginning to enter the world cinema, attracting attention due to its unusualness. Researchers believe that even Mozart and the Enlightenment poet Samuel Johnson could have been carriers of this disease.
Daria Eletskaya
