Alternative Treatments in Tourette Syndrome

Abstract

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) approaches are among the most popular and widely used treatments for Tourette syndrome (TS). This chapter is a systematic and critical review of the scattered evidence available on this topic. The five major groups of CAM practices are mind-body medicine, biologically based therapies, manipulative and body-based therapies, energy medicine, and whole medical systems. Research on CAM approaches is limited but rapidly expanding and improving in its quality. The CAM approaches most frequently reported to be used by patients with TS are dietary modification, allergy treatment, prayer, vitamins, massage, nutritional and dietary supplements, chiropractic manipulation, meditation, yoga, acupuncture, hypnosis, homeopathy, and biofeedback. Research evidence suggests that a number of CAM approaches are potentially useful in TS, yet there are methodological limitations in all studies. The approaches that appear to have the most promise based on the evidence to date are hypnosis, biofeedback, omega-3 fatty acids, cannabinoids, and traditional Chinese medicine (Ningdong granule). (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved). (chapter)