Definition
Coprolalia is the impulsive tendency to pronounce obscene and / or vulgar words.
This symptom is found above all in Tourette syndrome, a complex neuropsychiatric disorder characterized by motor and vocal tics. In this context, the expression of these terms occurs in an involuntary and inappropriate manner, resulting invalidating from a psychological and social point of view.
The subject suffering from Tourette's syndrome can pronounce a single word or a series of complex sentences, sometimes with a different cadence or a higher voice than the tone usually used during the conversation. Furthermore, a person can mentally repeat the vulgar word rather than pronounce it. In any case, coprolalia does not necessarily reflect the person's thoughts or opinions.
Coprolalia is also present in some forms of psychosis, in schizophrenia and in obsessive-compulsive disorder. Rarely, this manifestation is observed after brain injury (due, for example, to stroke or encephalitis) and in association with other neurological disorders.
In people not affected by specific medical conditions, coprolalia can be seen as a form of opposition and a desire for protest.
Possible Causes * of Coprolalia
- Encephalitis
- Stroke
- Schizophrenia
- Tourette syndrome
