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'It's a curse!': coprolalia in Tourette syndrome
1Department of Neuropsychiatry, Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, The Barberry National Centre for Mental Health, Birmingham, UK; School of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
European Journal of Neurology
|June 11, 2013
Summary
Coprolalia, or involuntary swearing, is linked to more severe tics in Tourette Syndrome (TS). This vocal tic significantly impacts patients' quality of life, necessitating clinical attention.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Psychiatry
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- Coprolalia is a socially inappropriate vocal tic often associated with Tourette Syndrome (TS).
- It is frequently misunderstood and overemphasized in popular culture as a defining characteristic of TS.
- This study aimed to identify clinical factors associated with coprolalia in TS patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate clinical predictors of coprolalia in individuals with Tourette Syndrome.
- To determine the impact of coprolalia on the quality of life for patients with TS.
Main Methods:
- Sixty patients with Tourette Syndrome (TS) participated in the study.
- Data collected included the presence of coprolalia (urges and outbursts), tic severity, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, attention problems, anxiety, depression, and quality of life.
- Statistical analyses explored relationships between these variables.
Main Results:
- The urge to utter obscene language correlated with non-obscene socially inappropriate symptoms and self-reported tic severity.
- Severe tics were a significant indicator of actual coprolalia outbursts.
- Coprolalia was significantly associated with a poorer quality of life in patients with TS.
Conclusions:
- Coprolalia has a distinct negative impact on the quality of life for individuals with Tourette Syndrome.
- Clinicians should consider coprolalia when evaluating treatment effectiveness in TS patients.
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