Treatment of Tourette syndrome
There is no cure for Tourette's and no medication which works universally for all individuals without significant adverse effects; knowledge and understanding are the best treatments available for tics. Management of the symptoms of Tourette's may include pharmacological, behavioral and psychological therapies. While pharmacological treatment is reserved for more severe symptoms, other types of treatments may help avoid or improve symptoms of depression or social isolation, and improve supportive family functioning. Educating the patient, family, and surrounding community (school, church, friends, etc.) is a key part of treatment.
Societal and cultural aspects of Tourette syndrome
Several documentaries have attempted to portray Tourette's syndrome accurately and to advocate for greater understanding of persons with Tourette's, while others focus on sensationalizing coprolalia. The Emmy Award-winning television documentary film "I Have Tourette's but Tourette's Doesn't Have Me" was produced by HBO in conjunction with the Tourette Syndrome Association, featuring children between the ages of six and 13. It was described by the "Cincinnati Enquirer" as "the best simple overview yet of Tourette's". "John's Not Mad" (1989) and "The Boy Can't Help It" (2000) are documentaries about a young man from Scotland, who has severe Tourette's and coprolalia. "Twitch and Shout" examines a society that is quick to judge a person who strays outside the limits of conventional behavior and was nominated for an Emmy. A 2007 British documentary, "Tourette De France", followed a group of teenagers with Tourette's on a trip to Paris; many of the teenagers featured in the program had coprolalia. "Movements and Madness: Gusti Ayu" is a documentary about the struggles of a young woman with severe Tourette's in a small village in Indonesia. A 2011 BBC documentary, "Tourettes: I Swear I Can Sing", followed aspiring musician Ruth Ojadi as she explains her experience of TS and her struggle to find self-confidence in her singing.