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Gilles De La Tourette's Disease

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 February 2018

S. Bockner
S. Bockner*
Affiliation:
North Middlesex Hospital
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Extract

In its classical form this peculiar disease is characterized by an irresistible compulsion to swear, together with motor tics. First recorded by Itard in 1825, it was later fully described (1885) and followed up (1899) by Gilles de la Tourette, whose name has been given to the condition. Associated with the compulsive utterances are multiple motor tics, hence Convulsive Tic is a synonym for the malady. The motor movements are more severe and widespread than those met with in simple tic, and they may involve the whole body in a violent spasm. Facial grimaces, violent jerks of the head, limbs and trunk may occur, often combined with an explosive utterance. This exclamation may consist of an unorganized sound such as a bark or a groan or a grunt. Or it may be a word—frequently of an obscene nature (coprolalia) which greatly embarrasses the patient. Other features of the condition are echolalia—the impulse to repeat sounds or words which the patient hears, and echbpraxia—the compulsion to copy the actions of others.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Journal of Mental Science , Volume 105 , Issue 441 , October 1959 , pp. 1078 - 1081
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1959 

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