Rapid onset of functional tic-like behaviors among adolescent girls—Minnesota, September–November 2021
BackgroundOn October 15, 2021, the Minnesota Department of Health began investigating a school cluster of students experiencing tic-like behaviors thought to be related to recent COVID-19. The objective of this report is to describe the investigation, key findings, and public health recommendations....
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-01-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Neurology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2022.1063261/full |
| _version_ | 1797948150146662400 |
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| author | Melanie J. Firestone Melanie J. Firestone Stacy Holzbauer Stacy Holzbauer Christine Conelea Richard Danila Kirk Smith Rebecca H. Bitsko Susan M. Klammer Stefan Gingerich Ruth Lynfield |
| author_facet | Melanie J. Firestone Melanie J. Firestone Stacy Holzbauer Stacy Holzbauer Christine Conelea Richard Danila Kirk Smith Rebecca H. Bitsko Susan M. Klammer Stefan Gingerich Ruth Lynfield |
| author_sort | Melanie J. Firestone |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundOn October 15, 2021, the Minnesota Department of Health began investigating a school cluster of students experiencing tic-like behaviors thought to be related to recent COVID-19. The objective of this report is to describe the investigation, key findings, and public health recommendations.MethodsAffected students and proxies were interviewed with a standardized questionnaire including validated depression and anxiety screens.ResultsEight students had tic-like behaviors lasting >24 h after initial report with onset during September 26–October 30, 2021. All eight students were females aged 15–17 years. All students either had a history of depression or anxiety or scored as having more than minimal anxiety or depression on validated screens. Four students previously had confirmed COVID-19: the interval between prior COVID-19 and tic symptom onset varied from more than a year prior to tic symptom onset to at the time of tic symptom onset.ConclusionThe onset of tic-like behaviors at one school in Minnesota appeared to be related more to underlying mental health conditions than recent COVID-19. These findings highlight the need to better understand functional tic-like behaviors and adolescent mental health. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T21:39:40Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d00580bf0a7345f4a434904929808a4e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-2295 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T21:39:40Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Neurology |
| spelling | doaj.art-d00580bf0a7345f4a434904929808a4e2023-01-19T07:09:07ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Neurology1664-22952023-01-011310.3389/fneur.2022.10632611063261Rapid onset of functional tic-like behaviors among adolescent girls—Minnesota, September–November 2021Melanie J. Firestone0Melanie J. Firestone1Stacy Holzbauer2Stacy Holzbauer3Christine Conelea4Richard Danila5Kirk Smith6Rebecca H. Bitsko7Susan M. Klammer8Stefan Gingerich9Ruth Lynfield10Epidemic Intelligence Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, GA, United StatesMinnesota Department of Health, St. Paul, MN, United StatesMinnesota Department of Health, St. Paul, MN, United StatesDivision of State and Local Readiness, Center for Preparedness and Response, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, GA, United StatesDepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, United StatesMinnesota Department of Health, St. Paul, MN, United StatesMinnesota Department of Health, St. Paul, MN, United StatesDivision of Human Development and Disability, National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, GA, United StatesMinnesota Department of Health, St. Paul, MN, United StatesMinnesota Department of Health, St. Paul, MN, United StatesMinnesota Department of Health, St. Paul, MN, United StatesBackgroundOn October 15, 2021, the Minnesota Department of Health began investigating a school cluster of students experiencing tic-like behaviors thought to be related to recent COVID-19. The objective of this report is to describe the investigation, key findings, and public health recommendations.MethodsAffected students and proxies were interviewed with a standardized questionnaire including validated depression and anxiety screens.ResultsEight students had tic-like behaviors lasting >24 h after initial report with onset during September 26–October 30, 2021. All eight students were females aged 15–17 years. All students either had a history of depression or anxiety or scored as having more than minimal anxiety or depression on validated screens. Four students previously had confirmed COVID-19: the interval between prior COVID-19 and tic symptom onset varied from more than a year prior to tic symptom onset to at the time of tic symptom onset.ConclusionThe onset of tic-like behaviors at one school in Minnesota appeared to be related more to underlying mental health conditions than recent COVID-19. These findings highlight the need to better understand functional tic-like behaviors and adolescent mental health.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2022.1063261/fulltics and Tourette Syndromemental healthadolescent girlsfunctional neurologic disorderstic disorder |
| spellingShingle | Melanie J. Firestone Melanie J. Firestone Stacy Holzbauer Stacy Holzbauer Christine Conelea Richard Danila Kirk Smith Rebecca H. Bitsko Susan M. Klammer Stefan Gingerich Ruth Lynfield Rapid onset of functional tic-like behaviors among adolescent girls—Minnesota, September–November 2021 Frontiers in Neurology tics and Tourette Syndrome mental health adolescent girls functional neurologic disorders tic disorder |
| title | Rapid onset of functional tic-like behaviors among adolescent girls—Minnesota, September–November 2021 |
| title_full | Rapid onset of functional tic-like behaviors among adolescent girls—Minnesota, September–November 2021 |
| title_fullStr | Rapid onset of functional tic-like behaviors among adolescent girls—Minnesota, September–November 2021 |
| title_full_unstemmed | Rapid onset of functional tic-like behaviors among adolescent girls—Minnesota, September–November 2021 |
| title_short | Rapid onset of functional tic-like behaviors among adolescent girls—Minnesota, September–November 2021 |
| title_sort | rapid onset of functional tic like behaviors among adolescent girls minnesota september november 2021 |
| topic | tics and Tourette Syndrome mental health adolescent girls functional neurologic disorders tic disorder |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2022.1063261/full |
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