Tourette Syndrome: A Mental Illness?

[Retired]

Excerpt from an article in The Toronto Star
December 10, 2011
(Re: Chasing down demons, Dec. 3)

First the disorder is properly called Tourette Syndrome — Gilles de la Tourette, who first identified it, didn’t have it himself so the word isn’t possessive.

Second, while the challenges of living with physical and verbal tics, twitches and outbursts may contribute to mental health issues such as depression, Tourette Syndrome is a neurological disorder.

Mental illness is emotionally, behaviorally or psychologically based and often treatable or curable. A neurological disorder is one of the brain, spine or nervous system: we don’t characterize Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s or other such diseases as mental health issues, and neither is Tourette.

Some treatment is available, but there is no medication specifically for Tourette, and no cure: understanding and support are crucial to those who live with this disorder.

Lynn McLarnon, Executive Director, Tourette Syndrome Foundation of Canada