If one day you are walking down the street and suddenly a stranger passes you and lets out a 'big nose', it is possible that he could not help but criticize your nose. It is an example of what are known as complex non-obscene socially inappropriate symptoms characteristic of Tourette syndrome . These types of symptoms include, according to Clare Eddy and Andrea Cavanna of the National Center for Mental Health in Birmingham, insults to other people, making socially inappropriate comments and committing socially reprehensible actions such as shouting 'bomb! ' in the middle of an airport and cause the fright of those present.
In Tourette syndrome, the above symptoms should be distinguished from others of an 'obscene' nature which, although very striking, are rare since less than 15% of patients usually present them. This is the case of coprolalia , which is a tendency to swear or use obscene language in a compulsive and uncontrolled way, and coprolalia, or the tendency to make rude gestures.
These symptoms, as well as the learning difficulties and difficulties in executive functions that frequently appear, have a direct impact on the quality of life of patients due to the problems they cause at school, work and in social relationships. For this reason, they should not only be included in treatment plans but could also be used as an indicator of their effectiveness.
Marisa Fernández, Senior Neuropsychologist, Unobrain
