Tourette’s Syndrome: What We Know, What We Don’t Know, and What We Still Haven’t Asked
摘要
In this chapter, we offer an exploration of Tourette's Syndrome (TS), tracing its historical and clinical understandings, from its early identification in nineteenth-century France to contemporary perspectives on its aetiology, symptomatology, and treatment. We delve into the development of definitions and labelled characteristics of TS, as well as its prevalence, clinical manifestations, and comorbidities such as Attention Deficit/Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). In so doing, we critically review previous theories that have linked TS to hysteria, psychosexual disturbance, and voluntary habit formation, highlighting the paradigm shift to a more nuanced neurobiological understanding of the condition. Finally, we critique dominant medicalised models of disability, arguing for a critical realist approach that recognises the often hidden role of stigmatising attitudes as well as discriminatory behaviours and structural barriers in the experience of TS. This highlights the importance of integrating the lived experiences of people with Tourette’s into the discourse, moving away from mainly pathological perspectives, and advocating for a more inclusive understanding of TS as part of a complex neurodevelopmental spectrum. Participants’ quotes throughout the text provide real-world insights into the experience of living with TS, illustrating its polymorphous nature. Our objective is to foster a critical dialogue on the biological, social, and psychological dimensions of TS, urging for medical and social reforms to improve the quality of life for people with Tourette’s that take into account the nuanced, intersectional, and diverse nature of the condition.