DOCSLIB.ORG

Gilles De La Tourette's Syndrome- a Case Report

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Gilles De La Tourette's Syndrome- a Case Report GILLES DE LA TOURETTE’S SYNDROME- A CASE REPORT. E.O Adayonfo (MBBS, Benin) Departmentof Mental Health, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria. Correspondence: Dr Adayonfo EO. Mental Health Department, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria. E-mail: [email protected] ABSTRACT aristocratic lady lived as a recluse and This case report is on Gilles de la ticked and blasphemed1. Her Tourette’s syndrome, a disorder of disturbance began when she was movement and sound. seven years old and persisted until her It is a very uncommon diagnosis that death at the age of eighty years. was made on a female 29 years old During the closing years of the 19th Nigerian undergraduate. The diagnosis century to the mid 1900’s the was predicated on clinical features, syndrome was well documented and like virtually all psychiatric diagnoses. extensively reported. It had seemed to Management was behavioural disappear as interest was lost in it. In interventions and low dose haloperidol 1978 Shapiro and his colleagues with resultant complete remission. published a comprehensive This case brings to the fore the need multidisciplinary monograph about the for appropriate referral and high condition and thereafter Gilles de la clinical diagnostic acumen. Tourette’s syndrome was accepted as Key words: Gilles de la Tourette’s a specific entity4. syndrome, uncommon diagnosis, Several historic figures might have clinical features, haloperidol, been affected by this syndrome, behavioural interventions) including Prince Conde, a member of the French royal family, Wolfgang INTRODUCTION Amadeus Mozart and Dr. Samuel Gilles de la Tourette’s syndrome is a Johnson, the British diarist1,5. rare psycho-neurological tic disorder1. A diagnosis of the syndrome is made Tics are defined as rapid and repetitive when there are multiple motor tics and muscle contractions resulting in at least one vocal tic, occurring many movements and or vocalizations that times a day for nearly everyday for are experienced as involuntary2. more than one year6. The syndrome was named by Jean The life time prevalence of the Martin Charcot after the French syndrome is estimated to be 4 to 5 per neuropsychiatrist Georges Albert 10,000; commoner in children and 3 Edouard Brutus Gilles de la Tourette 3. times more in males2,7. The motor tics In 1884 Gilles described nine patients usually precede the vocal tics 2. who were affected with tics Examples of motor tics that occur in characterized by echolalia, pallilalia, this syndrome are eye blinking, facial coprolalia, a want for touch and twitching or grimacing, shoulder stuttering3. One of the nine patients shrugging, neck jerking, grooming was the Marquise de Dampierre. This behaviour, smelling of objects, jumping, touching behaviour, These abnormal movements and echopraxia, copropraxia; while the sounds could happen at the same time vocal tics include grunting, sighing, or separately. They have no functional throat clearing, coughing, sniffing, significance and do not follow a snorting, barking, coprolalia, pallilalia particular pattern. They are sudden and echolalia2. and rapid, with each episode lasting The aetiological factors are numerous for about a minute. These symptoms and could be idiopathic. The factors have remained stable. She had no full include hereditary, psychogenic, post- control over them but was sometimes traumatic, post-central nervous system able to suppress them. The abnormal infections, derangement of the movements and sounds occur biogenic amines, drugs like everyday, sometimes several times a methylphenidate, levo dopa, long-term day. She could predict their chlorpromazine therapy etc.8-17. occurrence but unable to tell what There was no local literature found on brings them up. The episodes were Gilles de la Tourette’s syndrome on self-limiting. literature review, possibly because of its rarity. The patient maintained awareness of self, the event and able to recall the CASE REPORT experience; communicates normally in A 29 year old female Nigerian the absence of vocal tics. undergraduate was referred from the It has never happened in her sleep, or neurology team of University of Benin caused her road traffic or domestic Teaching Hospital to the psychiatric accident, but has occurred team of same hospital. occasionally in the class and church. She was referred on account of She refuted hearing strange voices, abnormal movements and sounds of claiming they are her thoughts. She two years duration and a one year thinks of herself negatively because of history of fleeting 2nd person auditory the above symptoms. hallucination. No history of fever, loss of She was apparently well until 2 years consciousness, headache, seizures, prior to presentation when she heat or cold intolerance, sore throat, suddenly began to observe abnormal carbon monoxide poisoning, movements. The eyes could suddenly substance use disorder, tremors, close and she would be unable to dancing movements or regularly open them, her head could turn to one prescribed medication was elicited. side, or she could be grimacing, Also, no psycho-social stressors grinning, smiling or showing her teeth. predated these symptoms and no The neck and the trunk sometimes family history of similar condition or twist. The head or any of the limbs mental illness generally. could shake individually or in In her mental state evaluation there combination. One or both knees could were no thought disorders, compulsive suddenly bend. Some times her mouth acts or cognitive deficits. However becomes as if glued together and she several episodes of abnormal motor would be unable to talk. behaviours and vocalizations which About six months later, she also began consisted of stretching and turning the to make abnormal sounds. She could neck, shrugging the shoulders, facial hiss, grunt, or at times actually spoke grimacing, flexing elbow and words or make sentences that no one shoulders; as well as hisses, grunts or she could understand. and sniffs were extravagantly manifested during the evaluation. She able to achieve complete remission pointed at the reviewing doctor, made within ten weeks of treatment further incoherent speeches as if she were buttresses this assertion. abusing the doctor. They were sudden, The patient had these symptoms for rapid, non-rhythmic, and stereotypic two years during which she suffered and appear to be involuntary. They psychologically, socially and lasted between 30 and 60 seconds. academically. She was conscious and accessible The imperative of a high diagnostic during each episode. acumen is emphasized. Physical examination including central Human movement involves an nervous system was normal. astonishing complex interaction of the A diagnosis of Gilles de la Tourette’s brain, nervous system and muscles; syndrome was made. even a simple action such as picking She could not afford a cranial up a biro engages several different computed tomographic scan. This parts of the brain 20. The conscious would have ruled out intracranial thought areas of the brain trigger the neoplasm. Serum calcium and motor area to send signals to the phosphorus were normal. This was muscles of the arm, as the movement done because their derangement begins, sensors in the arm are could cause abnormal movement. activated, sending signals back into Urinalysis was also normal. the different areas of the brain that Individual psychotherapy and interpret them and then send further behavioural therapy were commenced. messages to the motor area to fine She was educated on the disorder. tune power, speed, coordination and The prognosis was discussed with her balance 20. With this level of and she was helped to gain insight into complexity, it is not surprising the disorder. movement disorders occur. She was thought self monitoring, and Other conditions in which movement how to control or modify the disorder occur are stereotypic symptoms. She was reassured. movement disorder 21,Parkinson’s She was also put on Tablets disease,parkinsonism,Parkinson-plus Haloperidol 2.5 mg daily and trial of syndromes, Huntington’s disease, anticonvulsants. She did not comply Wilson’s disease,inherited ataxias, with medications because of side essential tremors, restless leg effects. syndrome, dystonia, cerebrovascular Within ten weeks of treatment she had accident, cerebral palsy, complete remission. encephalopathies, intoxication, It is noteworthy that the emphasis of poisoning by carbon monoxide, the treatment was on behavioural cyanide, methanol or manganese 22. modification to which unarguably she The diagnosis of Gilles de la Tourette’s responded. syndrome is a clinical one. Brain imaging techniques and other DISCUSSION investigations are done to rule out Some authorities opine that most other causes of movement and sound cases of tic disorder including Guiles disorder. de la Tourette’s syndrome start as Management of this syndrome habit. This habit progresses to become includes behavioural interventions involuntary and self perpetuating. such as habit reversal techniques, The fact that this patient who was not massed (negative) practice, self compliant with her medication was monitoring, incompatible response Times Revue Neurologique training, and relaxation techniques 2. Paris 1986; 142(11): 808-816. Drug management includes high potency typical antipsychotics like 4. Shapiro Ak, Shapiro E, Wayne haloperidol, the atypical antipsychotics HL, Clarkin J, Bruun RD. like olanzapine, alpha-2 adrenergic Tourette’s syndrome, agonists like clonidine; other
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Understanding Tourette Syndrome and Its Effects on Learning
    Understanding Tourette Syndrome And Its Effects On Learning Tourette Association Education In-Service A Teacher’s Perspective I’ve come to the conclusion that I am the decisive element in the classroom. It’s my personal approach that creates the climate. It’s my daily mood that makes the weather. As a teacher, I possess a tremendous power to make a child’s life miserable or joyous. I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration. I can humiliate or honor, hurt or heal. In all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crisis will be escalated or de-escalated and a child humanized or de-humanized. – Haim Ginott 2 Learning Objectives At the end of this presentation, you will be able to do the following: 1. List the characteristics of TS. 2. Identify the most common disorders and difficulties associated with TS. 3. Discuss the impact of these disorders on classroom performance. 4. Identify classroom strategies and techniques for working with children with TS. 3 Tourette Syndrome (TS) • Neurodevelopmental disorder • Genetic • Not rare • Motor and vocal tics (involuntary movements and sounds) • Due to the nature of TS, symptoms will vary from person to person 4 How Common are TS and Tic Disorders • TS is classified as one of several neurodevelopmental conditions referred to as tic disorders. • 1 in every 160 school-aged children (0.6%) in the United States has Tourette Syndrome. • 1 in every 100 school-aged children (1%) in the United States has Tourette Syndrome or another tic disorder. • Tic disorders occur more frequently in boys than girls.
    [Show full text]
  • Sensory Gating Scales and Premonitory Urges in Tourette Syndrome
    Short Communication TheScientificWorldJOURNAL (2011) 11, 736–741 ISSN 1537-744X; DOI 10.1100/tsw.2011.57 Sensory Gating Scales and Premonitory Urges in Tourette Syndrome Ashley N. Sutherland Owens1, Euripedes C. Miguel2, and Neal R. Swerdlow1,* 1Department of Psychiatry, UCSD School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA; 2Departamento de Psiquiatria da Faculdade de Medicina da USP, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil E-mail: [email protected] Received June 17, 2010; Revised January 28, 2011, Accepted February 7, 2011; Published March 22, 2011 Sensory and sensorimotor gating deficits characterize both Tourette syndrome (TS) and schizophrenia. Premonitory urges (PU) in TS can be assessed with the University of Sao Paulo Sensory Phenomena Scale (USP-SPS) and the Premonitory Urge for Tics Scale (PUTS). In 40 subjects (TS: n = 18; healthy comparison subjects [HCS]: n = 22), we examined the relationship between PU scores and measures of sensory gating using the USP-SPS, PUTS, Sensory Gating Inventory (SGI), and Structured Interview for Assessing Perceptual Anomalies (SIAPA), as well symptom severity scales. SGI, but not SIAPA, scores were elevated in TS subjects (p < 0.0003). In TS subjects, USP-SPS and PUTS scores correlated significantly with each other, but not with the SGI or SIAPA; neither PU nor sensory gating scales correlated significantly with symptom severity. TS subjects endorse difficulties in sensory gating and the SGI may be valuable for studying these clinical phenomena. KEYWORDS: premonitory urge, sensory gating, tic, Tourette syndrome INTRODUCTION Tourette syndrome (TS) is one of several brain disorders characterized by symptoms that suggest failures in the automatic ―gating‖ of sensory stimuli. In TS, intrusive sensory information is often experienced as pressure or discomfort, at or below the skin level, or as a mental sensation[1].
    [Show full text]
  • JOURNAL of PSYCHOPATHOLOGY Editorial 2019;25:179-182
    OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE ITALIAN SOCIETY OF PSYCHOPATHOLOGY Journal of Editor-in-chief: Alessandro Rossi VOL. 25 - 2019 NUMBER Cited in: EMBASE - Excerpta Medica Database • Index Copernicus • PsycINFO • SCOPUS • Google Scholar • Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI), a new edition of Web of Science Journal of OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE ITALIAN SOCIETY OF PSYCHOPATHOLOGY Free download Current Issue Archive Early view Submission on line Cited in: EMBASE - Excerpta Medica Database • Index Copernicus PsycINFO • SCOPUS • Google Scholar • Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI), a new edition of Web of Science In course of evaluation for PubMed/Medline, PubMed Central, ISI Web of Knowledge, Directory of Open Access Journals Access the site Editor-in-chief: Alessandro Rossi on your smartphone www.pacinimedicina.it OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE ITALIAN SOCIETY OF PSYCHOPATHOLOGY Journal of Editor-in-chief: Alessandro Rossi International Editorial Board R. Roncone (University of L’Aquila, Italy) D. Baldwin (University of Southampton, UK) A. Rossi (University of L’Aquila, Italy) D. Bhugra (Emeritus Professor, King’s College, London, UK) A. Siracusano (University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy) J.M. Cyranowski (University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, USA) A. Vita (ASST Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy) V. De Luca (University of Toronto, Canada) B. Dell’Osso (“Luigi Sacco” Hospital, University of Milan, Italy) Italian Society of Psychopathology A. Fagiolini (University of Siena, Italy) Executive Council N. Fineberg (University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, UK) President: A. Rossi • Past President: A. Siracusano A. Fiorillo (University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Naples, Italy) Secretary: E. Aguglia •Treasurer: S. Galderisi B. Forresi (Sigmund Freud Privat Universität Wien GmbH, Milan, Italy) Councillors: M.
    [Show full text]
  • Tourette's Syndrome
    Tourette’s Syndrome CHRISTOPHER KENNEY, MD; SHENG-HAN KUO, MD; and JOOHI JIMENEZ-SHAHED, MD Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas Tourette’s syndrome is a movement disorder most commonly seen in school-age children. The incidence peaks around preadolescence with one half of cases resolving in early adult- hood. Tourette’s syndrome is the most common cause of tics, which are involuntary or semi- voluntary, sudden, brief, intermittent, repetitive movements (motor tics) or sounds (phonic tics). It is often associated with psychiatric comorbidities, mainly attention-deficit/hyperac- tivity disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Given its diverse presentation, Tourette’s syndrome can mimic many hyperkinetic disorders, making the diagnosis challenging at times. The etiology of this syndrome is thought to be related to basal ganglia dysfunction. Treatment can be behavioral, pharmacologic, or surgical, and is dictated by the most incapacitating symp- toms. Alpha2-adrenergic agonists are the first line of pharmacologic therapy, but dopamine- receptor–blocking drugs are required for multiple, complex tics. Dopamine-receptor–blocking drugs are associated with potential side effects including sedation, weight gain, acute dystonic reactions, and tardive dyskinesia. Appropriate diagnosis and treatment can substantially improve quality of life and psychosocial functioning in affected children. (Am Fam Physician. 2008;77(5):651-658, 659-660. Copyright © 2008 American Academy of Family Physicians.) ▲ Patient information: n 1885, Georges Gilles de la Tourette normal context or in inappropriate situa- A handout on Tourette’s described the major clinical features tions, thus calling attention to the person syndrome, written by the authors of this article, is of the syndrome that now carries his because of their exaggerated, forceful, and provided on p.
    [Show full text]
  • The Use of Deep Brain Stimulation in Tourette's Syndrome
    Neurosurg Focus 35 (5):E4, 2013 ©AANS, 2013 The use of deep brain stimulation in Tourette’s syndrome JANINE ROTSIDES, B.S., AND ANTONIOS MAmmIS, M.D. Department of Neurological Surgery, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey Tourette’s syndrome (TS) is a childhood neuropsychiatric disorder characterized by multiple involuntary motor and vocal tics. It is commonly associated with other behavioral disorders including attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety, depression, and self-injurious behaviors. Tourette’s syndrome can be effectively managed with psychobehavioral and pharmacological treatments, and many patients experience an improvement in tics in adulthood. However, symptoms may persist and cause severe impairment in a small subset of patients despite available therapies. In recent years, deep brain stimulation (DBS) has been shown to be a promising treatment option for such patients. Since the advent of its use in 1999, multiple targets have been identified in DBS for TS, including the medial thalamus, globus pallidus internus, globus pallidus externus, anterior limb of the internal capsule/nucleus accumbens, and subthalamic nucleus. While the medial thalamus is the most commonly reported trajectory, the optimal surgical target for TS is still a topic of much debate. This paper provides a review of the avail- able literature regarding the use of DBS for TS. (http://thejns.org/doi/abs/10.3171/2013.8.FOCUS13292) KEY WORDS • Tourette’s syndrome • tics • deep brain stimulation • medial thalamus • globus pallidus N 1885, Georges Gilles de la Tourette described 9 pa- cade of life, with a mean age of onset of 7 years. Initial tients who suffered from “a neurological condition symptoms commonly manifest as simple motor tics of characterized by motor incoordination accompanied the head and face, with vocal tics appearing 1–2 years byI echolalia and coprolalia.”30 Charcot later named the later.
    [Show full text]
  • Tourette Syndrome
    Tourette Syndrome What is Tourette Syndrome? Tourette Syndrome (TS), or Tourette’s Disorder is a childhood neuropsychiatric (mental and nervous system) disorder that involves multiple tics—repetitive sudden movements (motor tics) and vocal outbursts (phonic tics) that seem largely outside of the person’s control. TS is one kind of a spectrum of tic disorders that includes transient tics (tics of less than a year’s duration) and chronic tics (tics typically lasting more than a year.) TS affects each person differently. However, tics tend to occur many times each day (often in flurries), typically wax and wane in their severity, change in form over time, and may disappear for weeks or months before coming back. What are tics like? Tics vary greatly and can be very confusing. TS symptoms tend to emerge between five and eighteen years of age and often stop by early adulthood. They are often divided into four varieties: • Simple motor - These tics are sudden, quick movements that involve a limited number of muscles and are usually repetitive. Examples: eye blinking, grimacing, shoulder shrugging and head jerking. • Simple phonic - These tics are when sounds are made. Examples: throat clearing, coughing, yelping or sniffing. • Complex motor – Movements that last longer and seem more purposeful. Examples: smelling things, jumping, touching or hitting others and self-injurious behaviors. • Complex phonic - Tics involve repeating sounds or phrases nonsensically. Examples: emitting words or phrases out of context, counting things out loud, or more rarely, vocalizing socially unacceptable words. What other disorders are associated with TS? While many people only have tics, it is not unusual for people with TS to have other disorders (i.e.
    [Show full text]
  • Challenges in Managing Treatment-Refractory Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and Tourette’S Syndrome Paulo Lizano, MD, Phd, Ami Popat-Jain, MA, Jeremiah M
    CLINICAL CHALLENGE Editor: Joji Suzuki, MD Challenges in Managing Treatment-Refractory Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and Tourette’s Syndrome Paulo Lizano, MD, PhD, Ami Popat-Jain, MA, Jeremiah M. Scharf, MD, PhD, Noah C. Berman, PhD, Alik Widge, MD, PhD, Darin D. Dougherty, MD, MMSc, and Emad Eskandar, MD, MBA Keywords: cognitive-behavioral therapy, deep brain stimulation, exposure response prevention, memantine, obsessive-compulsive disorder, Tourtette’s syndrome CASE HISTORY to our PHP and, because of his outbursts, forced to live in Mr. R was a 19-year-old, single, unemployed, homeless His- the associated shelter. On admission, he endorsed his mood panic male with a history of Tourette’s syndrome (TS), obsessive- as “sad.” He admitted to having tics (vocalizations, moving compulsive disorder (OCD), attention-deficit/hyperactivity foot, head, scratching) and OCD symptoms (looking at things disorder (ADHD), and posttraumatic stress disorder. In ad- a certain number of times, obsession with symmetry, and star- dition, he suffered from suicidal ideation, self-injurious ing at a corner) that lasted the whole day. He endorsed anxi- behavior (superficial cutting and head banging), anxiety, de- ety that consisted of general worry and ruminations about the pression, and anger outbursts. He was referred to our cognitive- past. He denied any manic or psychotic symptoms, as well as behavioral therapy (CBT) partial hospitalization program (PHP) suicidal or homicidal ideation. and associated homeless shelter for the targeted treatment of his Developmentally, the patient was born at 40 weeks gesta- OCD, TS, and anger outbursts after being discharged from tion,birthweight8lbs,2oz,anddeliveredbynormalspontane- a psychiatric hospital. ous vaginal delivery, with no prenatal or perinatal complications.
    [Show full text]
  • Chlorpromazine-Induced Relapse of Tourette Syndrome in a Patient with Intellectual Disability, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, and Schizophrenia
    Open Access Case Report DOI: 10.7759/cureus.10732 Chlorpromazine-Induced Relapse of Tourette Syndrome in a Patient With Intellectual Disability, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, and Schizophrenia Anum Maqsood 1 , Salman Akram 2 , Faisal Akram 3 1. Internal Medicine, Howard University Hospital, Washington, DC, USA 2. Internal Medicine, Rawalpindi Medical University, Gujranwala, PAK 3. Psychiatry, Department of Behavioral Health, Saint Elizabeths Hospital, Washington, DC, USA Corresponding author: Anum Maqsood, [email protected] Abstract Tourette syndrome (TS) is a chronic neuropsychiatric disorder characterized by recurrent multiple motor and vocal tics that last for at least one year and follow a waxing and waning course. A fundamental step in the pathophysiology of TS is the hyperactivity of dopaminergic system leading to increased dopamine release in the cortical-basal ganglia-thalamo-cortical (CBGTC) circuits, thereby providing the rationale for treatment with dopamine receptor, in particular D2, antagonists. Although antipsychotics have shown considerable efficacy against tics in most patients, there have been cases of paradoxical onset of tics in individuals without history, and relapse or exacerbation of tics in individuals with a history of tic disorders upon initiation of antipsychotics. Here we report a case of an individual with intellectual disability, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and schizophrenia, who experienced a relapse of TS symptoms after initiation of chlorpromazine therapy. Categories: Neurology, Psychiatry Keywords: tourette syndrome, chlorpromazine, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, schizophrenia Introduction Tourette syndrome (TS) is a neuropsychiatric disorder characterized by childhood onset of chronic motor and vocal tics with “a waxing and waning” course [1,2]. It is a lifelong disorder with the most severe symptoms occurring between 8 and 12 years, usually followed by a gradual decline in severity [3].
    [Show full text]
  • Tourette Syndrome and Tic Disorders
    Tourette Syndrome and Tic Disorders Presentation by Kiran Singh, PGY-3 UCI/CHOC Pediatrics Residency Program Case 1: Leslie ● 8 year old previously healthy female. At age 6, she started developing involuntary blinking and head jerking. These movements will sometimes recede for a couple of weeks but then reappear without any known triggers. She has a family history of generalized anxiety disorder in mom, OCD in dad. She is not on any medications currently. Otherwise, she is doing well in school, and has been told she has “above average intelligence. Mom does, however, report that she has “an anxious temperament.” What is her diagnosis? Case 2: Benjamin ● 11 year old with history of inattention and hyperactivity presenting with a history of throat clearing since age 10, with grimacing and shoulder shrugging. Mom is frustrated with his behavior, saying “first he wouldn’t stop disrupting class by clearing his throat loudly, which finally got better over the last few weeks, but now he’s starting to make grunting sounds!” Benjamin says he can’t control these actions, that he just has an urge to them and feels better after doing them. He otherwise is not on any medications. His brother has a history of ADHD. What is his diagnosis? Tic Disorders: DSM V diagnoses ● Tourette’s disorder: the presence of both motor and vocal tics for more than 1 year (Case 2: Benjamin) ● Persistent (chronic) motor or vocal tic disorder: single or multiple motor or vocal tics for more than 1 year, but not both motor and vocal (Case 1: Leslie) ● Provisional tic disorder
    [Show full text]
  • Assimilation of Alters in a Case of Dissociative Identity Disorder
    MIAMI UNIVERSITY The Graduate School Certificate for Approving the Dissertation We hereby approve the Dissertation of Carol Lee Bentall Humphreys Candidate for the Degree: Doctor of Philosophy _______________________ Chair William B. Stiles, Ph.D. ____________________________ Reader Roger M. Knudson, Ph.D. _____________________________ Reader Larry M. Leitner, Ph.D. _____________________________ Graduate School Representative Paul V. Anderson, Ph.D. ABSTRACT FROM FRAGMENTATION TO NEGOTIATION: ASSIMILATION OF ALTERS IN A CASE OF DISSOCIATIVE IDENTITY DISORDER By Carol Lee Bentall Humphreys This case study examined the psychological changes shown by Kristen, a female client diagnosed with Dissociative Identity Disorder, across four years of psychotherapy. A team of eight (six coinvestigators, myself as the primary investigator and former therapist, as well as my dissertation advisor) tracked Kristen and her alters’ shift in experience from internal fragmentation at therapy intake to dramatically increased communication among her alters at termination. This change process included the gradual reduction of Kristen’s internal amnesic barriers as she actively engaged in therapy. Her experience of “pulling one brick out at a time” was examined using the assimilation model, a theory of psychological change. We analyzed therapy notes, psychological reports, audio-tapes, video-tapes, transcribed therapy sessions, client-produced emails, drawings, and letters to further an understanding as to how change occurs in therapy for those who experience
    [Show full text]
  • Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorder
    Research Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorder Associated with Streptococcal Infection (PANDAS): Clinical Manifestations, IVIG Treatment Outcomes, Results from a Cohort of Italian Patients Piero Pavone1, Raffaele Falsaperla1, Francesco Nicita2, Andreana Zecchini3, Chiara Battaglia1, Alberto Spalice 2, Lucia Iozzi3, Enrico Parano4, Giovanna Vitaliti1, Alberto Verrotti5, Vincenzo Belcastro6, Sung Yoon Cho7,†, Dong-Kyu Jin7, Salvatore Savasta3 Abstract Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorder associated with Streptococcal Infection (PANDAS) is characterized with main clinical features including obsessive-compulsive disorders and tics, acute-onset in prepubertal age, relapsing-remitting course, association with neurological abnormalities (mainly choreiform movements and motor hyperactivity), and temporal relationship with group A streptococcal infections. Thirty- four children with a serious- severe grade of PANDAS were enrolled in Italian Institutions with the aim to report clinical manifestations of the patients and their response to the intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) treatment. All patients were selected according to the Swedo‘s criteria and specific laboratory investigations as suggested by Chang for the PANS and treated with IVIG at the dosage of 2 g/kg/day for two consecutive days. At the onset, all patients presented with at least, one psychiatric manifestation including anxiety, emotional lability, bedwetting, enuresis, and phobia, and oppositional behavior including temper tantrums, personality changes, and deterioration in math skills and handwriting. At the laboratory investigations, positivity of pharyngeal swab for streptococcal infection in most of the patients and variable titers of anti-DNase B and ASO were found. In 29 patients reduction or disappearing of the motor symptoms were reached after 1 or 2 cycles of IVIG treatment, while in 5 patients the symptoms reappeared after the third cycle of IVIG.
    [Show full text]
  • Tourette Syndrome
    At A Glance: Tourette Syndrome CDC is committed to • Increasing our understanding of Tourette syndrome (TS); • Educating communities, families, educators, and providers about TS; and • Helping improve the lives of people with TS. What is TS? How many people have TS? TS is a disorder of the nervous system that The exact number of people with TS is unknown. causes people to have “tics.” Studies that included children with diagnosed or undiagnosed TS have estimated that 1 of every Tics are sudden and repetitive twitches, 162 children has TS. National data from 2016– movements, or sounds. People who have tics 2017 estimated that 1 of every 333 U.S. children cannot stop their body from doing these (about 150,000) ages 6–17 years had been things. diagnosed with TS, suggesting that about half of People with TS have two forms of tics: U.S. children with TS are not diagnosed. TS is more common among boys than girls. • Motor tics involving movements of the body, such as blinking. • Vocal tics involving sounds made with the What conditions also occur in voice, such as grunting. people with TS? Tics are common, but for people to be More than 5 in 6 children with TS have at least diagnosed with TS, tics have to occur many one additional mental, behavioral, or times a day, nearly every day, for at least 1 developmental condition. year. Symptoms usually begin when a child is The two most common conditions are: 5–10 years old. TS can impact children’s school performance, • Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD; relationships, and health.
    [Show full text]