Author: Peristera Paschou
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
ISBN: 2889453235
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 324
Book Description
Gilles de la Tourette Syndrome (TS) is a common, albeit severely under-diagnosed, neuropsychiatric disorder that is caused by a complex genetic basis, interacting with environmental factors. High comorbidity rates with other neurodevelopmental disorders such as attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder raise the intriguing hypothesis of a shared etiological background. Abnormalities of corticostriatal-thalamic-cortical circuits (CSTC) and dysfunction of both dopamine and serotonin neurotransmitter systems are assumed to be associated with TS. Recently, multiple lines of evidence also point towards an important role of additional neurotransmitters such as histamine and glutamate. For a very long time, efforts to elucidate the etiology and pathophysiology of TS have been fragmented and hampered by low statistical power. Finally, after more than two decades of active research aiming to identify the etiology and pathophysiology of TS, we are on the verge of a new era, promising exciting and rapid discoveries in the field. Investigators from around the world, representing multiple disciplines and scientific approaches, are joining their efforts in large-scale initiatives supported both by European Union and US National funding agencies, such as the European-funded EMTICS, TACTICS, and TSGeneSEE consortia, the Marie Curie Initial Training Network TS-EUROTRAIN and the European Society for the Study of TS joining forces with the NIH-funded TSAICG, GGRI, and Tic Genetics consortia. Importantly, all these initiatives are supported by TS patient support and advocacy groups. Multiple resources are being consolidated and coming together to serve the study of TS, including large well-characterized patient cohorts, and specialized epidemiological databases, such as the unique resource of the Netherlands Twin Register. This research topic showcases current large-scale collaborative efforts aiming to elucidate the genetic and neurobiological background of TS, through diverse approaches; from genomewide association studies aiming to identify common variants associated to the disorder to neuroimaging studies and animal models. Furthermore, current approaches on the clinical assessment and management of the disorder are presented. Propelled by the gradual availability of large scale TS cohorts, novel methodologies, and importantly, sheer enthusiasm by multiple researchers working together across different countries, the new era of the neurobiology of TS holds the promise to identify novel targets for improved therapies.
The Neurobiology and Genetics of Gilles de la Tourette Syndrome: New Avenues Through Large-Scale Collaborative Projects
Author: Peristera Paschou
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
ISBN: 2889453235
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 324
Book Description
Gilles de la Tourette Syndrome (TS) is a common, albeit severely under-diagnosed, neuropsychiatric disorder that is caused by a complex genetic basis, interacting with environmental factors. High comorbidity rates with other neurodevelopmental disorders such as attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder raise the intriguing hypothesis of a shared etiological background. Abnormalities of corticostriatal-thalamic-cortical circuits (CSTC) and dysfunction of both dopamine and serotonin neurotransmitter systems are assumed to be associated with TS. Recently, multiple lines of evidence also point towards an important role of additional neurotransmitters such as histamine and glutamate. For a very long time, efforts to elucidate the etiology and pathophysiology of TS have been fragmented and hampered by low statistical power. Finally, after more than two decades of active research aiming to identify the etiology and pathophysiology of TS, we are on the verge of a new era, promising exciting and rapid discoveries in the field. Investigators from around the world, representing multiple disciplines and scientific approaches, are joining their efforts in large-scale initiatives supported both by European Union and US National funding agencies, such as the European-funded EMTICS, TACTICS, and TSGeneSEE consortia, the Marie Curie Initial Training Network TS-EUROTRAIN and the European Society for the Study of TS joining forces with the NIH-funded TSAICG, GGRI, and Tic Genetics consortia. Importantly, all these initiatives are supported by TS patient support and advocacy groups. Multiple resources are being consolidated and coming together to serve the study of TS, including large well-characterized patient cohorts, and specialized epidemiological databases, such as the unique resource of the Netherlands Twin Register. This research topic showcases current large-scale collaborative efforts aiming to elucidate the genetic and neurobiological background of TS, through diverse approaches; from genomewide association studies aiming to identify common variants associated to the disorder to neuroimaging studies and animal models. Furthermore, current approaches on the clinical assessment and management of the disorder are presented. Propelled by the gradual availability of large scale TS cohorts, novel methodologies, and importantly, sheer enthusiasm by multiple researchers working together across different countries, the new era of the neurobiology of TS holds the promise to identify novel targets for improved therapies.
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
ISBN: 2889453235
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 324
Book Description
Gilles de la Tourette Syndrome (TS) is a common, albeit severely under-diagnosed, neuropsychiatric disorder that is caused by a complex genetic basis, interacting with environmental factors. High comorbidity rates with other neurodevelopmental disorders such as attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder raise the intriguing hypothesis of a shared etiological background. Abnormalities of corticostriatal-thalamic-cortical circuits (CSTC) and dysfunction of both dopamine and serotonin neurotransmitter systems are assumed to be associated with TS. Recently, multiple lines of evidence also point towards an important role of additional neurotransmitters such as histamine and glutamate. For a very long time, efforts to elucidate the etiology and pathophysiology of TS have been fragmented and hampered by low statistical power. Finally, after more than two decades of active research aiming to identify the etiology and pathophysiology of TS, we are on the verge of a new era, promising exciting and rapid discoveries in the field. Investigators from around the world, representing multiple disciplines and scientific approaches, are joining their efforts in large-scale initiatives supported both by European Union and US National funding agencies, such as the European-funded EMTICS, TACTICS, and TSGeneSEE consortia, the Marie Curie Initial Training Network TS-EUROTRAIN and the European Society for the Study of TS joining forces with the NIH-funded TSAICG, GGRI, and Tic Genetics consortia. Importantly, all these initiatives are supported by TS patient support and advocacy groups. Multiple resources are being consolidated and coming together to serve the study of TS, including large well-characterized patient cohorts, and specialized epidemiological databases, such as the unique resource of the Netherlands Twin Register. This research topic showcases current large-scale collaborative efforts aiming to elucidate the genetic and neurobiological background of TS, through diverse approaches; from genomewide association studies aiming to identify common variants associated to the disorder to neuroimaging studies and animal models. Furthermore, current approaches on the clinical assessment and management of the disorder are presented. Propelled by the gradual availability of large scale TS cohorts, novel methodologies, and importantly, sheer enthusiasm by multiple researchers working together across different countries, the new era of the neurobiology of TS holds the promise to identify novel targets for improved therapies.
The Neurobiology and Genetics of Gilles de la Tourette Syndrome: New Avenues Through Large-Scale Collaborative Projects
Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 0
Book Description
Gilles de la Tourette Syndrome (TS) is a common, albeit severely under-diagnosed, neuropsychiatric disorder that is caused by a complex genetic basis, interacting with environmental factors. High comorbidity rates with other neurodevelopmental disorders such as attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder raise the intriguing hypothesis of a shared etiological background. Abnormalities of corticostriatal-thalamic-cortical circuits (CSTC) and dysfunction of both dopamine and serotonin neurotransmitter systems are assumed to be associated with TS. Recently, multiple lines of evidence also point towards an important role of additional neurotransmitters such as histamine and glutamate. For a very long time, efforts to elucidate the etiology and pathophysiology of TS have been fragmented and hampered by low statistical power. Finally, after more than two decades of active research aiming to identify the etiology and pathophysiology of TS, we are on the verge of a new era, promising exciting and rapid discoveries in the field. Investigators from around the world, representing multiple disciplines and scientific approaches, are joining their efforts in large-scale initiatives supported both by European Union and US National funding agencies, such as the European-funded EMTICS, TACTICS, and TSGeneSEE consortia, the Marie Curie Initial Training Network TS-EUROTRAIN and the European Society for the Study of TS joining forces with the NIH-funded TSAICG, GGRI, and Tic Genetics consortia. Importantly, all these initiatives are supported by TS patient support and advocacy groups. Multiple resources are being consolidated and coming together to serve the study of TS, including large well-characterized patient cohorts, and specialized epidemiological databases, such as the unique resource of the Netherlands Twin Register. This research topic showcases current large-scale collaborative efforts aiming to elucidate the genetic and neurobiological background of TS, through diverse approaches; from genomewide association studies aiming to identify common variants associated to the disorder to neuroimaging studies and animal models. Furthermore, current approaches on the clinical assessment and management of the disorder are presented. Propelled by the gradual availability of large scale TS cohorts, novel methodologies, and importantly, sheer enthusiasm by multiple researchers working together across different countries, the new era of the neurobiology of TS holds the promise to identify novel targets for improved therapies.
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 0
Book Description
Gilles de la Tourette Syndrome (TS) is a common, albeit severely under-diagnosed, neuropsychiatric disorder that is caused by a complex genetic basis, interacting with environmental factors. High comorbidity rates with other neurodevelopmental disorders such as attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder raise the intriguing hypothesis of a shared etiological background. Abnormalities of corticostriatal-thalamic-cortical circuits (CSTC) and dysfunction of both dopamine and serotonin neurotransmitter systems are assumed to be associated with TS. Recently, multiple lines of evidence also point towards an important role of additional neurotransmitters such as histamine and glutamate. For a very long time, efforts to elucidate the etiology and pathophysiology of TS have been fragmented and hampered by low statistical power. Finally, after more than two decades of active research aiming to identify the etiology and pathophysiology of TS, we are on the verge of a new era, promising exciting and rapid discoveries in the field. Investigators from around the world, representing multiple disciplines and scientific approaches, are joining their efforts in large-scale initiatives supported both by European Union and US National funding agencies, such as the European-funded EMTICS, TACTICS, and TSGeneSEE consortia, the Marie Curie Initial Training Network TS-EUROTRAIN and the European Society for the Study of TS joining forces with the NIH-funded TSAICG, GGRI, and Tic Genetics consortia. Importantly, all these initiatives are supported by TS patient support and advocacy groups. Multiple resources are being consolidated and coming together to serve the study of TS, including large well-characterized patient cohorts, and specialized epidemiological databases, such as the unique resource of the Netherlands Twin Register. This research topic showcases current large-scale collaborative efforts aiming to elucidate the genetic and neurobiological background of TS, through diverse approaches; from genomewide association studies aiming to identify common variants associated to the disorder to neuroimaging studies and animal models. Furthermore, current approaches on the clinical assessment and management of the disorder are presented. Propelled by the gradual availability of large scale TS cohorts, novel methodologies, and importantly, sheer enthusiasm by multiple researchers working together across different countries, the new era of the neurobiology of TS holds the promise to identify novel targets for improved therapies.
Essential Psychiatry
Author: Robin M. Murray
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 1139473654
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 1385
Book Description
This is a major international textbook for psychiatrists and other professionals working in the field of mental healthcare. With contributions from opinion-leaders from around the globe, this book will appeal to those in training as well as to those further along the career path seeking a comprehensive and up-to-date overview of effective clinical practice backed by research evidence. The book is divided into cohesive sections moving from coverage of the tools and skills of the trade, through descriptions of the major psychiatric disorders and on to consider special topics and issues surrounding service organization. The final important section provides a comprehensive review of treatments covering all of the major modalities. Previously established as the Essentials of Postgraduate Psychiatry, this new and completely revised edition is the only book to provide this depth and breadth of coverage in an accessible, yet authoritative manner.
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 1139473654
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 1385
Book Description
This is a major international textbook for psychiatrists and other professionals working in the field of mental healthcare. With contributions from opinion-leaders from around the globe, this book will appeal to those in training as well as to those further along the career path seeking a comprehensive and up-to-date overview of effective clinical practice backed by research evidence. The book is divided into cohesive sections moving from coverage of the tools and skills of the trade, through descriptions of the major psychiatric disorders and on to consider special topics and issues surrounding service organization. The final important section provides a comprehensive review of treatments covering all of the major modalities. Previously established as the Essentials of Postgraduate Psychiatry, this new and completely revised edition is the only book to provide this depth and breadth of coverage in an accessible, yet authoritative manner.
Functional Neurosurgery
Author: Dr. Ahmed Raslan
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 019088763X
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 161
Book Description
Part of the Neurosurgery by Example series, this volume on functional neurosurgery presents exemplary cases in which renowned authors guide readers through the assessment and planning, decision making, surgical procedure, after care, and complication management of common and uncommon disorders. The cases explore the spectrum of clinical diversity and complexity within functional neurosurgery, including essential tremor, thalamotomy, parkinson's disease, epilepsy, dystonia, and more. Each chapter also contains 'pivot points' that illuminate changes required to manage patients in alternate or atypical situations, and pearls for accurate diagnosis, successful treatment, and effective complication management. Containing a focused review of medical evidence and expected outcomes, Functional Neurosurgery is appropriate for neurosurgeons who wish to learn more about a subspecialty, and those preparing for the American Board of Neurological Surgery oral examination.
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 019088763X
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 161
Book Description
Part of the Neurosurgery by Example series, this volume on functional neurosurgery presents exemplary cases in which renowned authors guide readers through the assessment and planning, decision making, surgical procedure, after care, and complication management of common and uncommon disorders. The cases explore the spectrum of clinical diversity and complexity within functional neurosurgery, including essential tremor, thalamotomy, parkinson's disease, epilepsy, dystonia, and more. Each chapter also contains 'pivot points' that illuminate changes required to manage patients in alternate or atypical situations, and pearls for accurate diagnosis, successful treatment, and effective complication management. Containing a focused review of medical evidence and expected outcomes, Functional Neurosurgery is appropriate for neurosurgeons who wish to learn more about a subspecialty, and those preparing for the American Board of Neurological Surgery oral examination.
The Biology of Mental Disorders
Schizophrenia and Related Syndromes
Author: P. J. McKenna
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1583919287
Category : Psychology
Languages : en
Pages : 538
Book Description
This new edition has been thoroughly updated and revised to provide an authoritative overview of the subject of schizophrenia, including new chapters on the neurodevelopmental hypothesis, cognitive neuropsychology, and schizophrenia and personality.
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1583919287
Category : Psychology
Languages : en
Pages : 538
Book Description
This new edition has been thoroughly updated and revised to provide an authoritative overview of the subject of schizophrenia, including new chapters on the neurodevelopmental hypothesis, cognitive neuropsychology, and schizophrenia and personality.
Gabbard's Treatments of Psychiatric Disorders
Author: Glen O. Gabbard
Publisher: American Psychiatric Pub
ISBN: 158562540X
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 1250
Book Description
The definitive treatment textbook in psychiatry, this fifth edition of Gabbard's Treatments of Psychiatric Disorders has been thoroughly restructured to reflect the new DSM-5® categories, preserving its value as a state-of-the-art resource and increasing its utility in the field. The editors have produced a volume that is both comprehensive and concise, meeting the needs of clinicians who prefer a single, user-friendly volume. In the service of brevity, the book focuses on treatment over diagnostic considerations, and addresses both empirically-validated treatments and accumulated clinical wisdom where research is lacking. Noteworthy features include the following: Content is organized according to DSM-5® categories to make for rapid retrieval of relevant treatment information for the busy clinician. Outcome studies and expert opinion are presented in an accessible way to help the clinician know what treatment to use for which disorder, and how to tailor the treatment to the patient. Content is restricted to the major psychiatric conditions seen in clinical practice while leaving out less common conditions and those that have limited outcome research related to the disorder, resulting in a more streamlined and affordable text. Chapters are meticulously referenced and include dozens of tables, figures, and other illustrative features that enhance comprehension and recall. An authoritative resource for psychiatrists, psychologists, and psychiatric nurses, and an outstanding reference for students in the mental health professions, Gabbard's Treatments of Psychiatric Disorders, Fifth Edition, will prove indispensable to clinicians seeking to provide excellent care while transitioning to a DSM-5® world.
Publisher: American Psychiatric Pub
ISBN: 158562540X
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 1250
Book Description
The definitive treatment textbook in psychiatry, this fifth edition of Gabbard's Treatments of Psychiatric Disorders has been thoroughly restructured to reflect the new DSM-5® categories, preserving its value as a state-of-the-art resource and increasing its utility in the field. The editors have produced a volume that is both comprehensive and concise, meeting the needs of clinicians who prefer a single, user-friendly volume. In the service of brevity, the book focuses on treatment over diagnostic considerations, and addresses both empirically-validated treatments and accumulated clinical wisdom where research is lacking. Noteworthy features include the following: Content is organized according to DSM-5® categories to make for rapid retrieval of relevant treatment information for the busy clinician. Outcome studies and expert opinion are presented in an accessible way to help the clinician know what treatment to use for which disorder, and how to tailor the treatment to the patient. Content is restricted to the major psychiatric conditions seen in clinical practice while leaving out less common conditions and those that have limited outcome research related to the disorder, resulting in a more streamlined and affordable text. Chapters are meticulously referenced and include dozens of tables, figures, and other illustrative features that enhance comprehension and recall. An authoritative resource for psychiatrists, psychologists, and psychiatric nurses, and an outstanding reference for students in the mental health professions, Gabbard's Treatments of Psychiatric Disorders, Fifth Edition, will prove indispensable to clinicians seeking to provide excellent care while transitioning to a DSM-5® world.
Movement Disorder Emergencies
Author: Steven J. Frucht
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 1592599028
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 250
Book Description
Movement Disorder Emergencies: Diagnosis and Treatment provides a fresh and unique approach to what is already a high-profile subspecialty area in clinical neurology. The disorders covered in this volume are standard fare in the field but emphasize the urgencies and emergencies that can occur. One of the very attractive features of the field of movement disorders is that diagnosis is often based on unique visible and sometimes audible phenomenological symptoms and signs. Therefore, in this era of highly sophisticated laboratory and radiological diagnostic tools, the diagnosis of many movement disorders is still largely made in the clinic where pattern recognition is key. Crucial to astute clinical diagnosis is broad clinical experience. In short, you have to have seen one to recognize one! Patients with movement disorders nearly always present as outpatients but, as aptly recognized by Drs. Frucht and Fahn, this may include acute manifestations leading to emergency presentations, often in an emergency room setting, where they are very likely to be unrecognized and therefore poorly managed. The authors define an “emergency” movement disorder as one in which failure to promptly diagnose and treat may result in significant morbidity or mortality. However, they also stress the importance of certain “can’t miss” diagnoses such as Wilson’s disease, dopa-responsive dystonia, and Whipple’s disease in which delayed diagnosis in less emergent situations can lead to slowly evolving and often irreversible neurological damage with tragic consequences.
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 1592599028
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 250
Book Description
Movement Disorder Emergencies: Diagnosis and Treatment provides a fresh and unique approach to what is already a high-profile subspecialty area in clinical neurology. The disorders covered in this volume are standard fare in the field but emphasize the urgencies and emergencies that can occur. One of the very attractive features of the field of movement disorders is that diagnosis is often based on unique visible and sometimes audible phenomenological symptoms and signs. Therefore, in this era of highly sophisticated laboratory and radiological diagnostic tools, the diagnosis of many movement disorders is still largely made in the clinic where pattern recognition is key. Crucial to astute clinical diagnosis is broad clinical experience. In short, you have to have seen one to recognize one! Patients with movement disorders nearly always present as outpatients but, as aptly recognized by Drs. Frucht and Fahn, this may include acute manifestations leading to emergency presentations, often in an emergency room setting, where they are very likely to be unrecognized and therefore poorly managed. The authors define an “emergency” movement disorder as one in which failure to promptly diagnose and treat may result in significant morbidity or mortality. However, they also stress the importance of certain “can’t miss” diagnoses such as Wilson’s disease, dopa-responsive dystonia, and Whipple’s disease in which delayed diagnosis in less emergent situations can lead to slowly evolving and often irreversible neurological damage with tragic consequences.
Exposure Therapy for Anxiety
Author: Jonathan S. Abramowitz
Publisher: Guilford Publications
ISBN: 146253970X
Category : Psychology
Languages : en
Pages : 478
Book Description
Now revised and expanded to include cutting-edge acceptance-based techniques and a new focus on inhibitory learning, this is the leading guide to therapeutic exposure, a crucial element of evidence-based psychological treatments for anxiety. The book helps the clinician gain skills and confidence for implementing exposure successfully and tailoring interventions to each client's needs, regardless of diagnosis. The theoretical and empirical bases of exposure are reviewed and specialized assessment and treatment planning techniques are described. User-friendly features include illustrative case examples, sample treatment plans, ideas for exercises targeting specific types of fears, and reproducible handouts and forms that can be downloaded and printed in a convenient 8½" x 11" size. New to This Edition *Chapter on acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) techniques. *Reflects a shift in the field toward inhibitory learning--helping clients learn to tolerate anxiety and uncertainty to maximize long-term outcomes. *Chapter on uses of technology, such as computer-based therapy and virtual reality tools. *Conceptual, empirical, and clinical advances woven throughout. See also the related client recommendation, The Anxiety and Worry Workbook, Second Edition, by David A. Clark and Aaron T. Beck.
Publisher: Guilford Publications
ISBN: 146253970X
Category : Psychology
Languages : en
Pages : 478
Book Description
Now revised and expanded to include cutting-edge acceptance-based techniques and a new focus on inhibitory learning, this is the leading guide to therapeutic exposure, a crucial element of evidence-based psychological treatments for anxiety. The book helps the clinician gain skills and confidence for implementing exposure successfully and tailoring interventions to each client's needs, regardless of diagnosis. The theoretical and empirical bases of exposure are reviewed and specialized assessment and treatment planning techniques are described. User-friendly features include illustrative case examples, sample treatment plans, ideas for exercises targeting specific types of fears, and reproducible handouts and forms that can be downloaded and printed in a convenient 8½" x 11" size. New to This Edition *Chapter on acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) techniques. *Reflects a shift in the field toward inhibitory learning--helping clients learn to tolerate anxiety and uncertainty to maximize long-term outcomes. *Chapter on uses of technology, such as computer-based therapy and virtual reality tools. *Conceptual, empirical, and clinical advances woven throughout. See also the related client recommendation, The Anxiety and Worry Workbook, Second Edition, by David A. Clark and Aaron T. Beck.
A Cursing Brain?
Author: Howard I. Kushner
Publisher: Harvard University Press
ISBN: 9780674180222
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 338
Book Description
Over a century and a half ago, a French physician reported the bizarre behavior of a young aristocratic woman who would suddenly, without warning, erupt in a startling fit of obscene shouts and curses. The image of the afflicted Marquise de Dampierre echoes through the decades as the emblematic example of an illness that today represents one of the fastest-growing diagnoses in North America. Tourette syndrome is a set of behaviors, including recurrent ticcing and involuntary shouting (sometimes cursing) as well as obsessive-compulsive actions. The fascinating history of this syndrome reveals how cultural and medical assumptions have determined and radically altered its characterization and treatment from the early nineteenth century to the present. A Cursing Brain? traces the problematic classification of Tourette syndrome through three distinct but overlapping stories: that of the claims of medical knowledge, that of patients' experiences, and that of cultural expectations and assumptions. Earlier researchers asserted that the bizarre ticcing and impromptu vocalizations were psychological--resulting from sustained bad habits or lack of self-control. Today, patients exhibiting these behaviors are seen as suffering from a neurological disease and generally are treated with drug therapy. Although current clinical research indicates that Tourette's is an organic disorder, this pioneering history of the syndrome reminds us to be skeptical of medical orthodoxies so that we may stay open to fresh understandings and more effective interventions.
Publisher: Harvard University Press
ISBN: 9780674180222
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 338
Book Description
Over a century and a half ago, a French physician reported the bizarre behavior of a young aristocratic woman who would suddenly, without warning, erupt in a startling fit of obscene shouts and curses. The image of the afflicted Marquise de Dampierre echoes through the decades as the emblematic example of an illness that today represents one of the fastest-growing diagnoses in North America. Tourette syndrome is a set of behaviors, including recurrent ticcing and involuntary shouting (sometimes cursing) as well as obsessive-compulsive actions. The fascinating history of this syndrome reveals how cultural and medical assumptions have determined and radically altered its characterization and treatment from the early nineteenth century to the present. A Cursing Brain? traces the problematic classification of Tourette syndrome through three distinct but overlapping stories: that of the claims of medical knowledge, that of patients' experiences, and that of cultural expectations and assumptions. Earlier researchers asserted that the bizarre ticcing and impromptu vocalizations were psychological--resulting from sustained bad habits or lack of self-control. Today, patients exhibiting these behaviors are seen as suffering from a neurological disease and generally are treated with drug therapy. Although current clinical research indicates that Tourette's is an organic disorder, this pioneering history of the syndrome reminds us to be skeptical of medical orthodoxies so that we may stay open to fresh understandings and more effective interventions.