The excessive and uncontrollable use of foul or obscene language. It is the involuntary utterance of offensive or obscene words and phrases. It differs from swearing or insulting others in that it is involuntary and may cause great discomfort to the person with the condition.
Persons who swear excessively, repeatedly and deliberately; that is, they swear because they want to; are not technically sufferers of coprolalia, although some writers may wish to apply the term loosely to them.
“Coprolalia” is derived from the Greek words “kopros” (dung) and “lalein” (to babble).
What causes coprolalia?
Tourette syndrome is a condition that affects the brain and nerves, causing people to make repeated movements and sounds that they cannot control. At times, coprolalia can be a symptom of Tourette Syndrome. Coprolalia may also occurs in patients with brain lesions, and in those with neurodegenerative and autoimmune disorders. The exact reason varies from person to person and require clinical evalation.
Management
Based on the clinical evaluation, patient management is done through medicines and social therapy. Some patients have been treated by injecting botulinum toxin (botox) near the vocal cords which does not prevent vocalizations but used as a step to control volume of outbursts.
Disclaimer The information collected in today’s Scribe of Wisdom is collated from various medical journals. Do not use this information as it is as this need to be corroborated with an expert medical opinion. Use this only for general understanding