Impulse Control & Addiction Disorders
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Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
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Are Mental Health Problems Preventable?
Tic disorder, sometimes referred to as Tourette’s or Tourette syndrome, is a condition where people make sudden and unexpected movements, motions, or noises. Because tic disorders affect the nerves and brain, it’s classified as a mental illness and requires careful treatment. Tic disorders can include things like uncontrolled blinking or eye movement, excessive head nodding or shaking, motions with the hands and feet, or random vocal noises or speaking.
In many cases, the things people do when they have tic disorders violate the social norm and can lead to social anxiety or depression. These tics can also start to interfere with your ability to work or hold down a job. Therefore, it is important to identify and treat tic disorders early in life so that you can live as normal a life as possible. Here are some of the most common treatments for tic disorders.
Currently, medications are the most common treatment available for tic disorders. The purpose of medications is to calm the neural pathways in the brain that are causing your involuntary tic. In so doing, medications can help you control your tic disorder and live a normal life. Here are some of the medications currently used to treat tic disorders.
Neuroleptics, sometimes referred to as antipsychotic medications, are currently the primary medications used to treat tic disorders. Neuroleptics, such as risperidone and haloperidol, reduce the amount of dopamine in the brain, which is one of the main hormones affecting your movements and bodily functions.
Certain types of tic disorders manifest similarly and affect the brain the same as that of attention deficit disorder. Therefore, some ADHD medications, such as clonidine and methylphenidate, can help treat tic disorders. However, depending on the type of disorder you have, ADHD medications can worsen your condition, so it is important to consult a physician before taking any medications.
When tic disorders are similar to side effects of high blood pressure, central adrenergic inhibitors, such as guanfacine, can be helpful in controlling them.
Botulin, the chemical used in Botox, is highly effective at relaxing muscles and nerves. Therefore, if your tic disorder affects a specific part of the body, botulin injections can relax these areas and prevent your tics from happening.
Finally, antiseizure medications, such as topiramate and lamotrigine, which are used to treat epilepsy, can help people with tic disorders. Antiseizure medications alter the electrical signals and neurons in the brain, which can help keep your tics under control.
While medications are the most effective way to treat tic disorders, they also have unwanted side effects.
In severe cases, you may also need surgery to cure your tic disorder. This surgery, known as deep brain stimulation, involves placing electrodes on the brain in the area that is causing the tic. These electrodes are connected to a pulse generator in your chest that helps regulate brain signals and control your tics. However, this procedure is still largely experimental and is only used in extreme cases.
In addition to medications and/or surgery, psychotherapy can also be very helpful for people with tic disorders. Psychotherapy, usually cognitive behavioural therapy, can help you understand your condition and why you have tics. In some cases, if your tic does not have an underlying medical cause and is strictly neurological, cognitive behavioural therapy can help you control the disorder.
While tic disorders typically are not fatal or even put people at serious physical risk, they are very inconvenient and embarrassing. As such, tic disorders can make it difficult to function in society, hold down a steady job, or maintain relationships. Therefore, it is important seek a diagnosis and treatment as quickly as possible if you have a tic disorder.