A developmental neuropsychiatric disorder characterized by multiple motor & one or more vocal tics, present for at least a year, causing distress & impaired functions.
⭐Characteristics:
✦Motor tics usually begin between 3-8yrs of age.
✦Vocal tics usually appear few years after onset of motor tics.
✦Tics become more complex after some years.
✦Their exacerbations often related to “Stress” & “Excitement”.
✦Peak is usually seen in early adolescence & most reduce in severity by the end of adolescence.
⭐Epidemiology:
⍟ 3 times more common in males.
⭐Comorbidity:
⍟OCD & ADHD are common.
⍟Depression
⍟Anxiety
⍟Learning Difficulties.
⍟Migraine
⭐Treatment:
1. Psychoeducation:
✦Lifestyle adjustment
✦Realistic expectations
✦Stress reduction
✦Caffeine reduction
2. Behavioral Interventions:
Habit-Reversal Training
⍟Awareness
⍟Self monitoring of tics
⍟Relexation
3. Treat comorbidity
4. Pharmacotherapy:
✦alpha-adrenergics.
✦If tics are severe & impairing, consider antipsychotics.
Reference:
- Oxford Handbook of Psychiatry (3rd edition) https://amzn.to/3rsJxse
Very informative
Nyc article