Tourette's syndrome
I see that one of the Big Brother contestants, Pete, suffers from the same condition as my uncle. Can you explain what exactly Tourette's syndrome is?
Tics are brief, rapid, purposeless, involuntary movements. Simple tics such as excessive blinking may begin as nervous mannerisms during childhood and may disappear without any treatment. Complex tics such as Tourette's syndrome are disorders in which muscle and vocal tics occur frequently throughout the day to varying degrees.
People with the disorder can suffer from a wide range of muscular disturbances such as repeated movement of the head from side to side, blinking of the eyes, opening of the mouth or stretching of the neck. Others may experience vocal tics such as repetitive grunting, snorting or humming which can progress to involuntary bursts of cursing.
Before a tic occurs the individual may feel an urge to perform the movement. Although it may be possible to suppress the urge for a little while, controlling tics is difficult, especially during times of emotional stress.
What causes this to happen?
Although the exact cause of Tourette's syndrome is not clear, we do know it is a neurological disorder that's probably the result of an imbalance of dopamine, a brain chemical. The condition tends to be hereditary and is three times more common in men than in women. Treatment is usually a combination of support and behavioural techniques such as relaxation and medication.
Do you think it's a bit cruel to have someone with an illness like this on television?
Having someone like Pete on Big Brother may help us see beyond the condition and appreciate that he is a regular guy who happens to suffer from something he can't always control. As people with Tourette's can experience great levels of anxiety in social situations, I feel he is particularly brave to open himself up to such extreme public scrutiny.
Marion Kerr