Los retos y desafíos del Síndrome de la Tourette en la psicología: agenda del presente y futuro

Tourette’s Syndrome has been barely researched in Puerto Rico. The children diagnosed with this syndrome present congenital and neurological symptoms that can cause behavioral problems that affect their learning capabilities and the development of social skills. It has been estimated that about 200,000 North Americans suffer the most severe traits of the condition and this number is still increasing up till today. The Puerto Rican Chapter of the Tourette Syndrome Association indicated that by 2006 about 35 families had a member that presented the symptoms of this disorder but lacked the necessary resources to manage and treat them adequately. These statistics are the only existing data available at the present. Research shows that in Puerto Rico there are no programs designed to identify, educate, and treat people with Tourette’s Syndrome. It is the duty of the psychology health professionals in the Puerto Rican society to be committed to attend the important task of promoting awareness and education about Tourette’s Syndrome. It is advisable to elaborate seminars and conventions to educate the professionals in the psychology field based on the changes presented by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (American Pyschiatric Association, 2013) to enhance knowledge about the process of identification, diagnosis, intervention and psychotherapeutic techniques. This article provides statistics and offers various recommendations based mainly on the literature provided by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention which can be useful to develop a reliable plan to manage the necessities of the Tourette clients and their families in Puerto Rico El Síndrome de Tourette ha sido poco estudiado en Puerto Rico. Los niños diagnosticados con el síndrome manifiestan condiciones neurológicas y congénitas que ocasionan problemas de comportamiento en el entorno social y educativo. Se estima que unos 200,000 norteamericanos padecen de la forma más severa del síndrome y esta cifra continua en aumento. El Capítulo de Puerto Rico de la Tourette Syndrome Association indicó que al 2006 unas 35 familias tienen algún miembro que padece de este trastorno en la isla pero no cuentan con los servicios necesarios para manejar la misma. Estas estadísticas son las únicas existentes al presente. La revisión de literatura demuestra que en Puerto Rico no existen programas para capacitar, identificar e intervenir con personas diagnosticadas con el síndrome de la Tourette.