The Quality of Life of People with Mental Illnesses: Tourette Syndrome, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Side: 1 of 1

                                
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Discover the power of ideas.

The Quality of Life 
Tourette Syndrome,
and Attention E

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Marjorie Horner, Department of Psychology, Ci
Faculty Mentor: Susan

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Tourette Syndrome, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and Attention Deficit
Hyperactivity Disorder are mental disorders that can have many negative
effects on life. The way researchers measure this is by asking those with
them about their quality of life (QOL). They want to know just how
socially, mentally, financially, and physically cripplinglife can be with
these disorders. Researchers have used, but are not limited to, surveys and
group discussions for this information. They want to find out as much as
they can so they can better educate the world; the more educated people
are about these disorders, the better quality of life someone with them can
have.

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Tourette Syndrome is a neurodevelopmental disorder whose suf
actions known as tics. Many people are also familiar with the te
out obscenities. Touretters can control these actions to the same
control blinking; they can prolong the tic, but only for short peri
Tourette Syndrome experience emotional and behavior difficult
interested in the degree to which these difficulties are experienc
of 86 children between 8 and 18 years of age is measured based
recorded group discussions were guided by key questions, but ti
find out what these children felt and why they felt that way. The
realize that there are many factors that affect the QOL of a Tour
obsessive compulsive aspects of the disease. The overall results
the QOL of a person with Tourette Syndrome is typically much
disease (Cutler, Murphy, Gilmour, Heyman 2009).
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a psychological disor
intense uneasiness and fear that can only be relieved by doing c
stepping on the cracks in the ground or checking the door locks
of times before going to bed. OCD often has negative effects on
friendships (Norberg, Calamari, Cohen, Riemann 2008). 1 88 pa
the "overall life satisfaction and importance" (2008) of 16 categ
results from this experiment are that the QOL of those with OC]
people the researchers labeled "treatment nonresponders" have
considered "partial treatment responders" (2008). They also stu4
and found that the treatment nonresponders said depression level
is lower than partial treatment responders (2008).
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is also a neurodevelop
frequent symptoms include hyperactivity, impulsivity, and inatt(
2007). It often impairs social as well as family relationships. Ty]
include finding it difficult to stay seated, as well as playing nois
this article, researchers tried to find out the average medical cos
children in the Netherlands and how these affected their QOL. 1
QOL of those with ADUD is significantly worse psychosocially
known physical effects: and the economic costs are significant

ABSTRACT

LITERATURE REVIEW

INTERESTING FACTS

Tourette's
 There is no cure yet.
 Symptoms can last throughout one's entire life or completely disappear
before reaching 20; many see a reduction in severity.
 Males are affected three times more likely to be affected than females.
 The most common first tic is facial related.

OCD
 Males and females are equally affected.
 It is one of the most common undiagnosed diseases.
ADHD
 Males are six times more likely to be affected than females.
 It is common to see this condition alongside others such as OCD,
Tourette's, and Autism.
 There is evidence suggesting it is inheritable.

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