13 Girls from the Same School Portray Tourette-like Syndrome Overnight

13 girls from the same high school in New York suddenly developed an unusual muscle disorder which mimicked the symptoms of Tourette syndrome.

Tourette syndrome is a medical term for a muscle disorder which usually afflicts children between the ages of 7 and 10. Symptoms include uncontrolled movements, yelling or clearing the throat. Tics, head-jerking, eye-darting, and eye-blinking, all of which are involuntary, are portrayed by the victims of Tourette syndrome.

Tourette Syndrome
Tourette syndrome (TS) is a neurological disorder wherein the affected person makes repetitive and stereotyped involuntary movements, or noises, called ‘tics’.

School officials and parents are perplexed about the manner in which the symptoms have gripped many students at the same time.

Neurologist Dr. Laszlo Mechtler, administering treatment to the girls is of the opinion that it could be a case of "conversion disorder," more easily understandable as mass hysteria.

"It's happened before, all around the world. It’s a rare phenomenon. Physicians are intrigued by it. It occurs when patients appear to suffer from a common disease or ailment, typically after a stress event. Conversion disorder is psychologically rooted, but the symptoms are real. The bottom line is these teenagers will get better." says Mechtler.

Non-drug Therapy to Reduce Tics in Tourette Syndrome
New research has revealed that the use of cognitive-behavioural therapy to treat tics in Tourette syndrome may be as effective as and even superior to medication in certain cases.

Source-Medindia

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Anxiety, Panic Disorders Common in People With Tourette Syndrome
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