Tourette syndrome is a genetically transmitted disorder of the central nervous system (CNS) that appears in childhood and manifests as multiple motor tics and at least one vocal tic. Once considered very rare, this disorder is now diagnosed in approximately 10 children out of 1000, although mild forms of Tourette syndrome remain difficult to detect.
Experienced neurologists at Top Ichilov successfully treat Tourette syndrome using the most modern psychotherapeutic methods and the latest pharmacological developments.
Treatment of Tourette syndrome at Top Ichilov is conducted under the guidance of the head of the Parkinson's disease and movement disorders clinic in the neurology department Dr. Tatyana Gurevich.
Treatment of Tourette Syndrome at Top Ichilov
The key to treating Tourette syndrome is an individual approach, as there are no universal treatment methods.
If the condition is mild, psychotherapy is used. There can be many psychological causes of Tourette syndrome: depression, social isolation, and so on. Work is usually conducted not only with the patient but also with their surroundings, family, and friends.
In cases of advanced disease, pharmacological agents are used, primarily to alleviate symptoms, antipsychotics, and antihypertensive medications.
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Diagnosis of Tourette Syndrome
Not long ago, Tourette syndrome was associated with the involuntary utterance of obscene words, but this manifestation occurs only in a small number of patients.
Motor tics often appear between the ages of 2-8 years, while vocal tics can appear both before and after this age range.
Specialists primarily study the clinical picture and the occurrence of the disorder within the family.
Additionally, the following tests are conducted:
- General and biochemical blood tests
- Electroencephalogram (EEG)
- Computed tomography
Types of Tourette Syndrome
Types of Tourette syndrome are classified:
Depending on the type of tic:
- motor tics;
- vocal tics.
Depending on the duration:
- transient (one or both types of tics lasting from 4 weeks to 12 months);
- chronic (one type of tic lasting more than 1 year).
Symptoms of Tourette Syndrome
The spontaneous utterance of obscene words is the most common but not the primary symptom of Tourette syndrome. More frequently observed are coughing or blinking, scratching, and various other compulsive actions and tics.