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Adverse Reaction - an undesirable, unexpected and unintended reaction associated with the use of a medication used in an approved manner.
Akathisia - Inability to remain still; a feeling of inner restlessness. A possible side effect of neuroleptic medications.
Alternative/Complementary Medicines - A very broad range of substances including herbs, dietary substances, and vitamins that are obtained without a prescription (over the counter) and are believed to reduce symptoms of a host of medical conditions. These substances have rarely been researched to determine what is the active ingredient and whether or not they are effective. There is no supervision of purity by the FDA. There are many reports of harm done by taking these substances. Some might even be harmful.
Antidepressant - A prescription drug that relieves or minimizes depression
Aripiprazol (Abilify®) - a drug for the treatment of tics. It is a member of the neuroleptic drug class.
Arithmomania - Compulsive mental counting
Associated behaviors - The spectrum of behaviors sometimes seen in association with Tourette Syndrome; may include OCD, ADHD, learning problems or poor impulse control.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) - A neurobiological disorder causing distractibility, hyperactivity/impulsive behaviors and a general inability to focus attention.
Basal ganglia - Structures deep in the brain that relay messages between the prefrontal cortex and the lower structures of the brain. Known to be involved with movement.
Behavior therapy - Used with OCD and other conditions such as phobias; a person is exposed to anxiety-provoking stimuli while being prevented from performing the ritual or behavior previously used to reduce that anxiety
Bi-polar disorder – The name now used for what was once called manic-depression --a disorder that causes extreme ups and downs in mood.
CAT scan - (also known as CT scan). Computerized Axial Tomography, a series of computerized X-rays of the brain that show detailed brain structure.
Catapres® - See clonidine
Central nervous system (CNS) - Refers to the brain and spinal cord
Chorea - Abrupt, quick, jerky, involuntary movements of the head, neck, arms, or legs
Chromosomes - Microscopic, rod-shaped bodies in the nuclei of cells which contain the genetic material DNA
Clinical Trials - Research on humans that is designed to determine whether an experimental drug or treatment is effective or not.
Clomipramine (Anafranil®) - An antidepressant medication used in Tourette Syndrome to treat symptoms of OCD
Clonidine (Catapres®) - A drug originally developed to treat high blood pressure. It may be helpful in controlling tics, ADHD symptoms and, for some, stabilizes mood
Cognitive dulling - A possible side effect of neuroleptic drugs; may involve short-term memory loss and slowed thinking
Co-morbid condition - Medical term used when one condition or disorder occurs along with another. However, one condition does not directly cause the other
Compulsion - The feeling of being compelled or forced to perform a behavior, even though the person experiencing the compulsion does not want to do it. For example, evening things up, washing hands, excessive cleaning.
Coprolalia - Involuntary utterances of obscene or inappropriate statements or words
Depression - A disorder causing depressed mood, appetite changes, sleep disturbances, and sometimes suicidal thinking. Can often be treated successfully with medication.
Desipramine (Norpramin®) - A tricyclic antidepressant used in the treatment of ADHD
Developmental disability - A handicap or impairment of mental functioning that emerges before the age of eighteen and may be expected to continue indefinitely and which may constitute a substantial disability.
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM IV) - A manual published by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) which outlines all of the diagnostic criteria and provides systematic descriptions of various mental disorders.
Dopamine - One of the neurotransmitters (brain chemicals) involved in transmission of information from one nerve cell to another. Abnormal functioning of this transmitter may be responsible in part for causing tics.
Dyskinesia - A general term for involuntary and incomplete movements
Dyslexia - A learning disability that causes problems with reading.
Echolalia - Involuntary repetition of words or phrases said by others
Echopraxia - Mimicing the gestures of others
Etiology - The study of the basic causes of a disease or condition.
Epidemiology -A study of the description of a disease or condition including frequency (prevalence, incidence), characteristics, and natural history.
Extrapyramidal effects - Side effects of medications originating from the deep areas of the brain
Fluoxetine (Prozac®) - An antidepressant used to treat OCD and depression
Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) - is an advanced, neuroimaging technique that produces very sharp images of specific brain regions. Non-invasive, this modified MRI scanner traces blood flow allowing for accurate pinpointing of areas that are activated when the subject is engaged in specific activities or experiencing sensations, e.g. sights, sounds, body movements.
Gene - A hereditary unit consisting of a sequence of DNA that occupies a specific location on a chromosome. Specific traits, such as hair and eye color and stature are determined by genes.
Genetic Testing - A laboratory test that analyzes the person's DNA (genetic material) to determine whether the person either has or is carrying the vulnerability to getting a specific disease or condition. At this time there is no such test to confirm a diagnosis of TS or of carrier status for tic disorders.
Haloperidol (Haldol®) - A neuroleptic medication used primarily to treat TS tics
Involuntary movements - Actions beyond one's control that sometimes can be suppressed, but only for very limited periods and then must be expressed.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) - A scan of the brain or other part of the body that employs magnetic and low-energy radiowaves. No radioactive materials or dyes are needed. Provides highly detailed pictures of the structure of the brain.
Methylphenidate - A stimulant drug often prescribed for ADHD. Available in short and long acting dosages.
Monozygotic twins - Twins possessing identical genetic material
Neuroleptic - A class of medications, e.g. haloperidol, pimozide. Refers to the ability of the drug to suppress spontaneous movements and complex behaviors.
Neurotransmitter - Any of the chemicals carrying nerve impulses across the synapse (gap) between adjacent neurons (nerve cells).
Norepinephrine - One of the brain's neurotransmitters involved in the formation and function of dopamine and serotonin.
Obsession - An unwanted recurring thought or impulse that is without purpose
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) - When a person has uncontrollable thoughts and compulsive behaviors to the extent that they impair functioning.
Off Label Drugs - When a physician prescribes a medication for a condition other than the one for which the FDA has given approval.
Orap® - See pimozide
Palilalia - Repeatedly saying one's own words or phrases
PANDAS - Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal infection. This is a hypothesis that asserts that tics and/or obsessive compulsive disorders may follow, and hence be caused by, a streptococcal infection. It is a highly controversial theory.
Pimozide (Orap®) - A neuroleptic drug used to help reduce tics of TS
Positron Emission Tomography (PET) - An imaging technique using small amounts of radioactive material that produces a cross-sectional view of specific chemical activities in regions of the brain.
Premonitory urges - Sensations perceived by individuals immediately preceding an involuntary movement or vocalization.
Prozac® - See fluoxetine
Remission - A complete absence of symptoms for a period of months to even years . . Sometimes occurs with TS.
Risperidone (Risperdal ®) - a drug for the treatment of tics and also mood disturbance, especially anger management. It is a member of the neuroleptic drug class.
Ritalin® - See methylphenidate
Serotonin - One of the brain's neurotransmitters. When out of balance, it is believed to be involved in causing the symptoms of depression and OCD.
Side effects - Secondary, usually unwanted effects of taking a medication
Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) - Device which measures brain function through blood flow and glucose metabolism in areas of the brain
Stimulant - A drug such as methylphenidate or dextroamphetamine prescribed to treat symptoms of ADHD or ADD.
Synapse - The gap between neurons, across which messages are carried by neurotransmitters.
Tardive dyskinesia - Involuntary movements of the mouth, tongue, and lips. Some neuroleptic medications prescribed for Tourette Syndrome could contribute to the development of this condition.
Tic - An involuntary movement (motor tic) or involuntary vocalization (vocal tic)
Titration - Process of adjusting the dose to determine how much of a medication is required to produce a desired reaction.
Tourette Syndrome - Defined as multiple motor and vocal tics, lasting for more than one year, with onset before the age of eighteen.
Trichotillomania - A compulsion to pull out one's own hair in order to relieve anxiety.
Waxing and waning - A naturally occurring increase and decrease in severity and frequency of TS symptoms.
©2007 Tourette Syndrome Association, Inc. 42-40 Bell Boulevard / Bayside NY 11361 / 718-224-2999