Coprolalia
From Free net encyclopedia
Coprolalia is involuntary swearing or the utterance of obscene words or socially inappropriate and derogatory remarks. Coprolalia may also include references to genitals, excrement and sexual acts. It can be a single word, or complex phrases.
Coprolalia is an occasional but rare characteristic of Tourette syndrome and Lesch-Nyhan syndrome patients. Coprolalia comes from the Greek κόπρος meaning "feces" and λαλία meaning "babbling, meaningless talk". Coprolalia encompasses all words and phrases that are culturally taboo or generally unsuitable for acceptable social use, when used out of context. Coprolalia is not used to describe contextual swearing. It is usually expressed out of social or emotional context, and may be spoken in a louder tone or different cadence or pitch than normal conversation.
In Tourette syndrome, compulsive swearing can be uncontrollable and undesired by the person uttering the phrases. Involuntary outbursts, such as racial or ethnic slurs in the company of those most offended by such remarks, can be particularly embarassing. The phrases uttered by a person with coprolalia do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of the person.
A person with coprolalia may repeat the word mentally rather than saying it out loud. These subvocalizations can be very distressing.
According to the TSA, fewer than 15% of TS patients exhibit coprolalia, but it tends to attract more attention than any other symptom. The term is often found in use as a clinomorphism, an alteration or amplification of a medical condition for dramatic effect. In the case of coprolalia, 'compulsive profanity' is typically clinomorphically referred to as being Tourette's syndrome.
A related term is copropraxia, performing obscene or forbidden gestures.
Some patients have been treated by injecting botulinum toxin near the vocal cords. This does not prevent the vocalizations, but the partial paralysis that results helps to control the volume of any outbursts.
Coprolalia is also an extremely rare symptom of other psychiatric disorders.
External links
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