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  • Essay / Tourette Syndrome - Symptoms, Treatment, Epidemiology and Genetic Basis

    Table of ContentsDescription of the areaEvidence and researchMechanisms of actionIndicationsContraindicationsDescription of the areaTourette syndrome is a tic that is characterized by the presence of more than one motor tic and one or more vocal tics for a period of more than one year that cause impairment or distress in the patient. (McGuire, Piacentini, Brennan, Lewin, Murphy, Small, & Storch (2014) Tics are widely known for their very obvious and sometimes embarrassing symptoms. Although there are different types of tics, Tourette syndrome is by far the One of the most common themes of my research is the symptoms, treatment, epidemiology, and genetic basis of Tourette syndrome (TS). By discussing the symptoms of TS, readers will gain an in-depth understanding of the symptoms and characteristics of TS. Tourette Syndrome. Learn about the different options available to a patient diagnosed with TS. As I continue with my review, readers will then learn about the epidemiology and genetic significance of Tourette Syndrome. helped to strengthen the connection between the two research topic and the sources.Say no to plagiarismGet a tailor-made essay on “Why violent video games should not be banned”?Get an original essayThe main treatment method learned is about. habit reversal (Martin and Pear, 2015). ). Not only is it used to treat Tourette syndrome, but it is also used to treat several other tics. The method consists of three phases that include the behavior analyst, the patient, and the patient's family. First, the client has learned to describe and identify the problem behavior. Second, the client learns and practices a behavior that is incompatible or competing with the problem behavior. The client practices the competing behavior daily in front of a mirror and also engages in it immediately after the problem behavior appears. Third, to motivate themselves, the client examines the discomfort caused by the disorder, records and graphs the behavior, and asks a family member for reinforcement to engage in treatment (Martin & Pear 2015) . Evidence and Research McGuire, Piacentini, Brennan, Lewin, Murphy, Small, and Storch (2014) state in their article that chronic tics are normally defined by the symptoms they cause. These symptoms include motor tics and vocal tics and these tics can range from simple to complex. For a person to be diagnosed with Tourette syndrome, these symptoms would have to persist for at least a year. Müller-Vahl, Ludolph, Roessner, and Münchau state that Tourette syndrome (TS) is also defined by the presence of at least two types of motor tics and one type of vocal tics. This information is also confirmed by Douglass Woods, in an interview observed online (2015). In addition to this, researchers also explain that a tic is a repeated, rapid movement or vocalization without rhythm or purpose. In addition to this information, tics have carrier classifications. There is quality and complexity when it comes to tics. When we talk about the quality of tics, there are motor tics, which are movements, and vocal tics, which are sounds or bursts. The complexity of tics is simple or complex, simple tics affect a small number of muscles and are short-lived, while complex tics affect more than a small group of muscles and may persist for longer periods of time (2012). McGuire et al. explain that, since tics do not seem to differ with age, ticsthe most common are blinking, head shaking, mouth movements, and simple sounds (2014). Albin & Mink, in 2006, expressed that TS is specifically defined by the motor and vocal tics of the patient, these tics normally begin during adolescence, then persist and change type, frequency and are distributed throughout the adolescence.different parts of the body over time. Some tics may be present then suddenly disappear for no reason. The researchers also explain that complex motor tics can often look like voluntary movements, even though they are not. In addition to this information, Albin & Mink also provide us with a possible timeline of the onset of tics. Tics are known to occur in attacks that vary from a few hours to several months. These attacks are likely to increase during times of stress, and to relax when the patient is focused on something (2006). To continue, the researchers then focused on the therapeutic aspects of each source. The treatments discussed in this research are those found to be most effective when put to the test in the treatment of tics in people diagnosed with Tourette syndrome. Although Müller-Vahl, Ludolph, Roessner and Münchau believe that when it comes to tics, psychoeducation should be the first step (2012). Leclerc, O'Connor, Forget, and Lavoie believe that a combination of medication and cognitive behavioral therapy is, most of the time, a desirable treatment plan for Tourette syndrome (2010). Tallur & Minns present an overview of psychological and pharmacotherapeutic treatment. Psychological training on self-awareness, self-monitoring, and relaxation is helpful if available. Behavioral techniques such as “response prevention” involving prolonged exposure to the premonitory sensation thereby resulting in “habituation” have been shown to be effective. “Cognitive behavioral therapy” that has been shown to work for OCD will also work for TS and tics… Pharmacotherapy The decision to begin drug treatment for TS tics should be carefully considered and the risks of adverse effects should be carefully considered. be weighed against the potential benefits…medications show Significant improvements in the treatment of tics include (antipsychotics, seizure inhibitors, and sometimes antidepressants) (2010). To expand on what Tallur & Minns are saying, they provide a list of medications commonly used for the treatment of Tourette's disease, along with some side effects that accompany each of them. The information is presented in a table that begins with drug classifications including dopamine synaptic blockers, atypical antipsychotics, and non-antipsychotics. One of the first drugs to be talked about is Pimozide, which is an antipsychotic, also called a neuroleptic. Pimozide works by blocking dopamine receptors in the brain. Dopamine receptors are involved in transmitting messages between brain cells (netdoctor.co.uk, 2013). Another drug discussed is risperidone. Risperidone is classified as an atypical antipsychotic and works to rebalance dopamine and serotonin levels (name.org, 2013). The last medication that will be discussed is a non-antipsychotic called Clonidine, which is normally used to treat blood pressure. It works by decreasing the levels of certain chemicals in the blood, so that blood vessels are more relaxed and the heart beats more slowly (drugs.com, 2013). When theResearchers did further research on all of these drugs, it was found that clonidine, although it is sometimes prescribed for the treatment of tics, it is not as effective as neuroleptics and is not actually approved by the FDA for this use (Packer, 2011). Although medication can help a person diagnosed with TS, Müller-Vahl et al., introduced the idea of ​​habit reversal training (HRT). HRT has been used in recent studies as an alternative to drug treatment of tics. Habit reversal therapy is simple. When the tic occurs, instead of performing the desired tic, the patient performs an alternative action that was previously learned, which then prevents the occurrence of a tic. In several studies consulted by researchers, HRT and CBT are very popular. Leclerc et al. estimate that HRT is the most commonly reported and has the highest success rate when it comes to decreasing the presence of tics (2010). Researchers also introduce the idea of ​​cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT reduces the appearance of a tic by re-teaching the patient alternative actions and patterns. Although it has a different title, it is very similar to Habit Reversal, as they both work to decrease tics using different behavioral techniques. Mechanisms of Action To gather information on the mechanism of action related to Tourette syndrome, researchers observed an online survey. interview with Douglas Woods. It develops the underlying processes of Tourette syndrome. Woods says there is a part of the brain made up of abnormalities that cause tics, called the basal ganglia. Woods also states that the pathways responsible for inhibiting movement appear to be 10% smaller in people with Tourette syndrome (2015). He then explains that when a person with tics uses behavior change methods to stop the tics, it activates another part of the brain that seems normal. In other words, it's a trap. The job of the basal ganglia is to stop unwanted movements and allow reinforced ones, and if the basal ganglia is not functioning properly, it will allow unwanted behaviors to take place. . The example Dr. Woods brings up is that when Billy is in the living room of his house watching TV with his sister, he begins to have tics, which causes his sister to tease him, and then his mother yells at him. his sister and sends him upstairs. Billy can now watch TV alone and watch whatever he wants as well as his mother's full attention. Looking at what he wants and getting his mother's attention indirectly reinforces the tics because it causes a desirable outcome. Tics, as previously stated, may also occur more in a certain environment, such as a specific room, perhaps even in a car, or whenever someone is at the beach. Even if Billy doesn't necessarily find the tics themselves reinforcing, getting the things he wants after a chain of events triggered by the tics becomes reinforcing. So, when Billy is in the den, it is more likely that he will experience an increase in the frequency of tics, due to previous experiences.IndicationsIn order for the treatment options presented in my research above to achieve the best results, there are certain characteristics and situations that are desirable. To be more specific, if a patient is diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome and seeks help from a behavior analyst, he or she will most likely go through a behavioral assessment in order to.