Successful nutrition-based approach in Gilles de la Tourette syndrome heralding drug side effects: A case report and short review

Abstract

Gilles de la Tourette Syndrome (TS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by tics that frequently hide complex spectra with behavioral disorders. Medical intervention should rely on multimodal strategies including nutritional assessment and dietetic support as patients can suffer from impulsive eating and the medications often cause metabolic side effects. We present for the first time the case and treatment of a boy suffering from a severe phenotype of TS who experienced hyperphagia, weight gain, gastrointestinal disturbances, and nutritional delusions. Brief annotations about both differential nutritional assessment and underlying drug-related implications are also offered. The parents were educated on healthy eating, drug-food interactions, and hunger delay techniques. After the symptom-driven personalization of drug therapy, the start of cognitive behavioral therapy, and the escalation of the dietetic plan, the boy managed to lose weight and maintain healthy eating habits at the three-year follow-up. We reaffirm the importance of not only including a nutritionist in the management team of patients with TS, but also of assuring that the nutritional protocol perfectly integrates a comprehensive strategy in order to obtain long-term results.