TOURETTE'S SYNDROME

CHARACTERISTICS AND SYMPTOMS

• Tics: Involuntary movements, ranging in type and extremity
• Trouble paying attention (ADHD often accompanies this disorder)
• Anger Management issues (rage attacks)
• Many other disorders tend to accompany Tourettes

SEVERITY

• Depending on surroundings
• Tics worsen both randomly and enviromentally
• At the highest severity, rage attacks can happen

IMPACTS

• Strain on relationships
• Often causes family issues due to explicit tics
• Puts a huge amount of stressful responsibility on others
• Creates a feeling of depression and isolation
• Suicidal thoughts

UNDIAGNOSED

Cause of Disorder:

More often than not, Tourette's is a hereditary disorder. It passes through a gene carried in a family member and if carried by one the possibility of having it is 50%. It is more prevalent in males.

Cause of Disorder: Cont.

The environment may influence the disorder (making it worse or better) but the disorder itself is not causes by the persons surroundings.

PREVALENCE

Gender and Age Differences:

When 7/10 girls have Tourette's, 10/10 boys will have it. Tourette's is mostly diagnosed in children and early teens and is onset as early as birth.

Cultural Differences:

Tourettes can effect anyone from any income, race, etc.

Treatments:

Medicines given to suppress tics are most often used to treat other neurological disorders simultaneously, such as Depakote, which suppresses seizures. People with Tourette's should avoid stressful situations and people that would upset them. Therapies such as anger management and emotional stability are very helpful in regards to tics and other agitations.

Social Stigmas:

Tourettes is a very misunderstood disorder. Most people are not aware of its true nature and most things are unknown to the common public.

The most interesting thing about this project:

I learned a lot of things but incidentally not a lot about what I've seen to be a true issue of Tourettes - rage attacks.

Sources:

Williams, Mary E. Tourettes Sydrome, Detroit: Gale Cengage Learning, 2013. Print.

"Tourette’s Disorder Symptoms." Psych Central.com. Web. 13 Jan. 2015. .

"National Tourette Syndrome Association Home Page." National Tourette Syndrome Association Home Page. Web. 13 Jan. 2015. .