What assessment instruments can be used on a person with signs of Tourettes?

Question

the signs are reperated eye blinking, head jerking, shrugging, outbursts of obscenities and arm thrusts. And is this on Axis I?

Answer 1

I am assuming that you are trying to find out if someone has this disorder. Here is my information/advice:



Tourettes is not diagnosed by any instruments. There is not a test for Tourettes. Tourettes is diagnosed by oral history from you or the patient, and observation in the Doctors office. Sometimes, a physician will ask the person to undergo an EEG. This will not diagnose Tourettes, but is helpful in ruling out other conditions. Sometimes a blood test is required to help in ruling out other diseases.



Make an appointment with a Neurologist. You will most likely need a referral from your regular family physician.



Keep a log of the tics and vocal tremors. How often, etc. If possible, video tape the person when the tics are very obvious. This will help in the diagnosis if the tics are not present at the prescribed time and day of the appointment.

Bring the log and your video camera (to show the tape) to the Neurologist. This information is imperative.



Also, I would like to point out that you have incorrectly placed this question in the Mental Health category. Tourettes is not a Mental Illness. It is Neurological, or to be more specific, Neurobiological.



I hope this helps.



What is Axis I ?????

Answer 2

My younger son suffered quite badly with Tourettes as a youngster. Not all children suffer from involuntary outbursts, and in fact 'head jerking' and 'eye blinking' were the only outward signs of any problem.

After diagnosis and treatment at the 'Maudsley' hospital in South London, he was given 'Sulpiride' which did alleviate the symptoms. Unfortunately, the side effect of this drug caused him to put on a massive increase in weight, so he decided to just cope with the tics.

As he became a teenager, the tics grew much less severe, and now he's in his thirties, you wouldn't know that there had ever been a problem.

Juliart, I hope you read this, and that things go the same way for your child.

Answer 3

Tourette's is classified on Axis I.



As far as I am aware, there is not a specific instrument for the classification of Tourette's or diagnosis of it. The diagnosis is made based on observation of the behaviors and perhaps indication by several sources through other broad range instruments that classify behaviors.