Epidemiology
- Onset age < 18 (commonly age 6-15)
Etiology
Pathophysiology
Clinical features
- Tics: sudden and rapid involuntary, intermittent, nonrhythmic movements or vocalizations without any recognizable purpose
- May wax and wane in frequency
- Temporarily suppressible
- Premonitory urge: An urge or sensation preceding the tic is relieved by its onset.
- Both multiple motor tics & ≥1 vocal tics (not necessarily concurrent) >1 year
- Motor: facial grimacing, blinking, head/neck jerking, shoulder shrugging, tongue protrusion, sniffing
- Vocal: grunting, snorting, throat clearing, barking, yelling, coprolalia (obscenities)
Diagnostics
DDx
- Stereotypic movement disorder\
- Characterized by simple repetitive movements (eg, rocking, head banging), which are voluntary in nature and seemingly purposeless.
- They are often seen in children with autism spectrum disorders and intellectual disability and are a common form of self-soothing.
Treatment