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 Tourette's
Syndrome
Tourette's syndrome (TS)
is an inherited, neurological disorder characterized by multiple
involuntary movements and uncontrollable vocalizations called
tics that come and go over years. In a few cases, such tics can
include inappropriate words and phrases.
Not all people with TS have
disorders other than tics. However, many people experience
additional problems such as obsessive compulsive behavior,
characterized by an intense need to act repeatedly, such as hand
washing or checking that a door is locked; attention deficit-hyperactivity
disorder, characterized by difficulty concentrating and staying on
task; learning disabilities, which include reading, writing and
arithmetic difficulties; or sleep disorders, which include frequent
awakenings or talking in one's sleep. There are two categories of
tics: simple and complex.
Symptoms
Simple
 Sudden,
brief movements that involve a limited number of muscle
groups
Eye
blinking, shoulder shrugging, facial grimacing, head
jerking, yelping, and sniffing
Complex
Distinct,
coordinated patterns of successive movements involving
several muscle groups
Jumping,
smelling objects, touching the nose, touching other people,
coprolalia, echolalia, or self-harming behaviors
Although psychological
problems do not cause TS, psychotherapy may help the person better
cope with the disorder and deal with the secondary social and
emotional problems that sometimes occur. Ask
for help, now.
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a disabling,
chronic, and severe mental illness that affects more than 2 million
Americans age 18 and over. Symptoms include hearing internal voices,
thinking that other people are reading one's mind, controlling one's
thoughts, or plotting harm, which may leave a person feeling fearful
and withdrawn. Their disorganized behavior can be perceived as
incomprehensible or frightening. Regardless of available treatments
that can relieve many problems associated with the illness, most
people with schizophrenia continue to suffer some symptoms
throughout life. No more than one in five people recovers completely.
Symptoms
Distorted
perceptions
of reality
Hallucinations
and illusions
Delusions
Lack
of normal emotion
An
extremely apathetic appearance
Social
withdrawal
Antipsychotic drugs have
proven very helpful in relieving the psychotic symptoms of
schizophrenia—hallucinations, delusions, and incoherence—but are not
consistent in relieving the behavioral symptoms of the disorder. Psychosocial
treatments may help.
Ask
for help, now.
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