Course of Tic Disorders Over the Lifespan

AbstractPurpose of ReviewTo summarize and update information on the course of tic disorders from childhood through later life.Recent FindingsTics tend to improve substantially over the first year after they appear. However, contrary to widespread opinion, tics usually last longer than 1 year, though usually at minimal severity. Tics often wane to clinical insignificance over the teen years, possibly resurging occasionally over the lifespan. However, in an important minority of patients, tics remain clinically relevant throughout life. Tics rarely first come to clinical attention later in adulthood, but new reports describe additional such cases.SummaryRecent publications have shown tics to persist past a few months more often than previously thought, though often at minimal severity, and recurrence after an asymptomatic period is common. The safety and efficacy of behavior therapy for tics, together with prospective indicators of early prognosis, make feasible the possibility of bettering the lifetime course of tic disorders with early intervention.

Source: Current Developmental Disorders Reports - April 10, 2021 Category: Child Development Source Type: research