I have been discussing Tourette's Disorder (a disorder in which there
are motor and vocal tics) in my abnormal-psychology course. A couple
weeks ago, Michael Kane mentioned that coprolalia (obscene language that
is felt to be uncontrollable) is rare in this disorder. I have seen
estimates of 10-15%. On the other hand, the _Textbook of Psychiatry_
(3rd edition), published lat year by the American Psychiatric Press,
indicates that coprolalia occurs in 60% of people with Tourette's
Disorder (page 907, in a chapter written by Charles Popper and Scott
West). This figure also was in the 2nd edition (1994), but I thought it
was merely a typographical error. The fact that the same percentage has
reappeared in the 3rd edition makes me wonder where they might be
getting this estimate. Can anyone help to clarify this discrepancy
between the widely cited 10% and the much less widely cited 60%?
Jeff
P.S. I have a subclinical case of Tourette's Disorder, but I never feel
an uncontrollable urge to swear except after reading occasional posts to
TIPS.
--
Jeffry P. Ricker, Ph.D. Office Phone: (480) 423-6213
9000 E. Chaparral Rd. FAX Number: (480) 423-6298
Psychology Department [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Scottsdale Community College
Scottsdale, AZ 85256-2626
"The truth is rare and never simple."
Oscar Wilde
"Science must begin with myths and with the criticism of myths"
Karl Popper
