Tourette syndrome is a diagnosis that doctors make after verifying that the patient has had both motor and vocal tics for at least 1 year. The existence of other neurological or psychiatric conditions [these include childhood-onset involuntary movement disorders such as dystonia, or psychiatric disorders characterized by repetitive behaviors/movements (for example, stereotypic behaviors in autism and compulsive behaviors in
obsessive-compulsive disorder - OCD] can also help doctors arrive at a diagnosis. Common tics are not often misdiagnosed by knowledgeable clinicians. But atypical symptoms or
atypical presentation (for example, onset of symptoms in adulthood) may require
specific specialty expertise for diagnosis. There are no blood or laboratory
tests needed for diagnosis, but neuroimaging studies, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computerized tomography (CT), and electroencephalogram
(EEG) scans, or certain blood tests may be used to rule out other conditions that might be confused with Tourette syndrome.
It is not uncommon for patients to obtain a formal
diagnosis of Tourette syndrome only after symptoms have been present for some time. The reasons
for this are many. For families and physicians unfamiliar with Tourette syndrome, mild and even
moderate tic symptoms may be considered inconsequential, part of a developmental
phase, or the result of another condition. For example, parents may think that
eye blinking is related to vision problems or that sniffing is related to
seasonal allergies. Many patients are self-diagnosed after they, their parents,
other relatives, or friends read or hear about Tourette syndrome from others.
Anxiety is a feeling of apprehension and fear characterized by physical symptoms. Anxiety disorders are serious medical illnesses that affect approximately 19 million American adults.
Panic attacks are sudden feelings of terror that strike without warning. These episodes can occur at any time, even during sleep. A person experiencing a panic attack may believe that he or she is having a heart attack or that death is imminent. The fear and terror that a person experiences during a panic attack are not in proportion to the true situation and may be unrelated to what is happening around them. Most people with panic attacks experience several of the following symptoms: racing heartbeat, faintness, dizzyness, numbness or tingling in the hands and fingers, chills, chest pains, difficulty breathing, and a feeling of loss or control. There are several treatments for panic attacks.
Depression is an illness that involves the body, mood, and thoughts and affects the way a person eats and sleeps, the way one feels about oneself, and the way one thinks about things. The principal types of depression are major depression, dysthymia, and bipolar disease (also called manic-depressive disease).
Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder that causes a person to suffer repeated obsessions and compulsions. Symptoms include irresistible impulses despite a person's realization that the thoughts are irrational, excessive hand washing, skin picking, lock checking, or repeatedly rearranging items. People with OCD are more likely to develop trichotillomania, muscle or vocal tics, or an eating disorder. Treatment for OCD includes psychotherapy, behavioral therapy, and medication.
Genetic disease is a disorder or condition caused by abnormalities in a person's genome. Types of genetic inheritance include single inheritance (for example, cystic fibrosis, sickle cell anemia, Marfan syndrome, and hemochromatosis), multifactoral inheritance, chromosome abnormalities (for example, Turner syndrome, and Klinefelter syndrome), and mitochondrial inheritance (for example, epilepsy and dementia).
Asperger syndrome (AS, Asperger's syndrome) is an autism spectrum disorder. Asperger syndrome is characterized by a degree of impairment in language and communication skills, and repetitive or restrictive thoughts or behaviors. The most common symptom of Asperger syndrome is the obsessive interest in a single object or topic. Other conditions that may co-exist with Asperger syndrome include: ADHD, tic disorders, depression, anxiety disorders, and OCD. Diagnosis of Asperger syndrome is complicated, and treatment is generally directed toward minimizing the symptoms of the syndrome and behavioral and educational interventions.
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