Gilles de la Tourette syndrome - Response to electroconvulsive therapy

Karadenizli D., Dilbaz N., Bayam G.

JOURNAL OF ECT, vol.21, no.4, pp.246-248, 2005 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 21 Issue: 4
  • Publication Date: 2005
  • Doi Number: 10.1097/01.yct.0000184618.00661.72
  • Journal Name: JOURNAL OF ECT
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.246-248
  • Keywords: Tourette syndrome, treatment, ECT, DISORDERS, CHILDREN, ECT
  • Ondokuz Mayıs University Affiliated: No

Abstract

Tourette syndrome is a chronic disease characterized by vocal and motor ticks. Self-injurious behavior is observed in one third of the patients and can be life-threatening. Current medical therapy includes dopamine receptor antagonists and atypical antipsychotics. In certain cases, there has been some evidence about the efficacy of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). The case study below is a Tourette syndrome patient with self-injurious behavior and psychotic features and poor response to medical therapy. Two years of remission was achieved after 7 sessions of ECT and carbamezapine maintance therapy. In conclusion, ECT can be used as an efficacious treatment modality for Tourette patients with self-injurious behavior, psychotic features, or for those that are unresponsive to traditional methods.