Conversion Gilles de la Tourette syndrome. A case report

Abstract

Introduction. Tourette's syndrome is a neurological disorder of genetic order that begins in childhood, being characterized by the presence of multiple phonic and motor tics.

Clinical case. A male with previous dissociative and conversion psychopathology initiated motor and phonic tics in the adulthood in the context of several inter and intrapersonal conflicts beginning in childhood. No improvement was observed when drug treatment was established, there being partial response with psychotherapy oriented to coping with threatening situations.

Conclusions. The psychopathology of the obsessive-compulsive spectrum having a conversion and dissociative origin is an unusual phenomenon, this being observed in constitutionally predisposed subjects. Conversion tics are a nosologic challenge, given the fluctuations and exacerbations due to stress also manifested by their neurological homonyms. More specific criteria are necessary in order to optimize the diagnosis of this psychogenic movement disorder.