Psychiatry and Clinical Psychopharmacology

Successful treatment of Tourette’s syndrome impeding surgical intervention: a case report

Psychiatry and Clinical Psychopharmacology 2014; 24: Supplement S256-S257
Read: 621 Published: 17 February 2021

Tourette syndrome (TS) is a complex neuropsychiatric disorder with onset at childhood and unclear etiology. It is characterized by multiple motor and vocal tics that are present for more than one year. However, presence of motor and vocal tics at the same is not mandatory. Coprolalia (exclamation of obscene words) has been reported in 36-60% of the patients with TS. In this case report, we will discuss a case with Tourette’s syndrome impeding surgical intervention. A 15-year old schoolgirl (grade 10) was presented to our outpatient clinic for consultation, as nevus excision scheduled by plastic surgery department but the surgery was cancelled due to her tics. In the history taken from the patient and her mother, it was learned that the patient had been suffering from jumping or exclamation of obscene words for over 2 years when someone touched or when she felt that one would touch to her back; that she had failed to control these behaviors; and that she had experienced problems in the school with impaired relationship with her friends. The patient who applied to plastic surgery outpatient clinic with complaints of nevi, and nevus excision was scheduled for a surgical intervention. However, the patient was referred to child psychiatry outpatient clinic, as excision of nevi at her back and abdominal skin was impossible under local anesthesia because of her tics. Orientation, memory and attention examinations were normal. No perception disorder was detected in the patient with normal content of thought. She was diagnosed as Tourette’s syndrome and 0.5 mg/day risperidone was initiated which then escalated to 1 mg/day. On the control visit after a month, it was found that she had no jumping or use of obscene words in case of touching to back, but she was still uncomfortable. It was found that nevi at abdominal region were excised without any problem at plastic surgery department but excision of nevi at the back was delayed. Risperidone dose was escalated to 1.5 mg/day because incomplete recovery of complaints. On the next control visit, it was seen that there was complete recovery in her complaints. It was also found out that nevus excision at back region under local anesthesia was scheduled by plastic surgery. Studies demonstrated that there was a negative social perception against children and adolescents with vocal or motor tics and that chronic tic disorders markedly decrease quality of life. Tic disorders persisted in adult life can be associated with severe symptoms including motor tics that involve painful or self-harming episodes (hitting or biting) or coprolalia and copropraxia that can cause social stigma. In our case, tics did not only cause social challenges but it also impaired quality of life with an extent that impedes a medical intervention. This case indicated that recognition and control of tics in the management of TS is of importance regarding quality of life.

EISSN 2475-0581