Kontakt 2013, 15(1):57-65 | DOI: 10.32725/kont.2013.008

Tourette syndrome and its effects on the quality of lifeHealth and Social Sciences - Review

Zuzana Škodová^1,*, Veronika Maheľová², Petra Lajčiaková²

¹ Univerzita Komenského v Bratislave, Jesseniova lekárska fakulta v Martine, Ústav nelekárskych študijných programov, Martin, SK

² Katolícka univerzita v Ružomberku, Filozofická fakulta, katedra psychológie, Ružomberok, SK

Tourette syndrome is a lifelong neuropsychiatric disease exerting its onset in the childhood and characterized by the presence of tics, which are also frequently accompanied by behaviour disorders and further co-morbid conditions. Genetic factors frequently participate in its development, but epigenetic effects also cannot be excluded. In addition to tics, individuals with Tourette syndrome suffer from rather numerous locomotor and other specific symptoms in the behavioural and mental areas. The target of the present outline was to bring a summarization of topical knowledge from the scientific literature concerning the quality of life of patients with this disease in the most important fields and thus, to help explaining the impact of this disease on the everyday life.
Professional licensed databases of scientific journals and e-books, such as Medline, EBSCO complete, Springer and Blackwell, were employed to acquire relevant sources of special information and compilation of the outline of scientific studies published in this field.
Tourette syndrome is not a degenerative disease, but it affects several areas of the development and life. Numerous research studies bring data about a generally lower quality of life with this disease, where the most important predictors are the severity of tics and also occurrence and severity of associated co-morbidity, particularly in the sense of obsessive-compulsive disorders, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. The area of the social function can be considered as the most markedly negatively affected dimension of the quality of life. Due to tics, the Tourette syndrome considerably affects the locomotor development, which is frequently also associated with problems in the field of the cognitive capacity. There is, however, a particularly important impact on the social and emotional development, due to which particularly adolescent patients suffer from a reduction in their self-confidence and lack of experience in interactions with other people.
The present study also attempts to show that people suffering from Tourette syndrome are able to live in adequate manner provided that they are appropriately and beneficially supported. Early and accurate diagnosis provides the background necessary for the treatment. There are numerous alternatives in the field of pharmacotherapy and rehabilitation and improving the general quality of the life in the presence of the disease. An important factor affecting the quality of life is also the attitude and support by the family and also professionals providing the care.

Keywords: Tourette syndrome; tic disease; quality of life; social and emotional development

Received: June 25, 2012; Accepted: September 28, 2012; Published: March 15, 2013  Show citation