Modern Scope of Tourette Syndrome: History, Treatments, Comorbidities’ Impact on Quality of Life

Abstract

Tourette Syndrome is a chronic neurological disorder characterized by uncontrollable motor and vocal outbursts. The disorder is usually accompanied by comorbidities such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, depression, and more. This review organizes current research regarding pathologies of these comorbidities, and how dopamine as well as other neurological sequences give rise to tics and other disorders. Furthermore, this review promotes the need for research to shed light on the negative quality of life that Tourettes has on individuals, especially children, and questions the role that social concern and inabilities act as mediators for the onset of such comorbid disorders. I begin by briefly going over Tourette Syndrome’s history and explain the current scope of treatment options ranging from surgical procedures to behavioral options. Afterward, the paper discusses the current technology used for pathology detection and raises potential implications for technology use for comorbidity pathologies.