Functional tic-like behaviours during the COVID-19 pandemic: Follow-up over 12 months
BackgroundFunctional tics are included in the wide spectrum of functional movement disorders (FMDs). Their distinction from organic tics is challenging because they both phenomenologically present common features. During the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an increase in functional tic-like behavi...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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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 Pediatrics |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fped.2022.1003825/full |
| _version_ | 1797956909335052288 |
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| author | Adriana Prato Adriana Prato Federica Saia Maria Chiara Milana Miriam Scerbo Rita Barone Renata Rizzo |
| author_facet | Adriana Prato Adriana Prato Federica Saia Maria Chiara Milana Miriam Scerbo Rita Barone Renata Rizzo |
| author_sort | Adriana Prato |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundFunctional tics are included in the wide spectrum of functional movement disorders (FMDs). Their distinction from organic tics is challenging because they both phenomenologically present common features. During the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an increase in functional tic-like behaviours in vulnerable children and adolescents after social media exposure. This study explores the phenomenology and course of a cohort of newly diagnosed functional tic-like behaviors.MethodsWe analysed clinical data of 243 patients affected by tic disorders collected at outpatient Tourette Clinic, Child and Adolescent Neurology and Psychiatry Unit, Catania University. Among the clinical cohort with functional tic-like behaviors, we evaluated the clinical course of symptoms at follow-up visits after 6 and 12 months.ResultsAmong the cohort of 243 patients referred for evaluation at our centre, 11 were diagnosed with functional tic–like behaviours. The majority of participants with functional tic–like behaviours were female with a mean age of 15 years old and presented an explosive symptom's onset. At follow-up visit after 12 months, patients with functional tic-like behaviors showed a significant variation in the severity of tics and anxiety symptoms. Conversely, depressive, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms did not significantly differ during the follow-up.ConclusionOur data suggest that several characteristics in clinical course and their phenomenology can help clinicians to distinguish functional tic–like behaviours from organic tics. Our results also suggest a better outcome for tics and anxiety symptoms respect on other comorbidities. A prompt diagnosis and management not only of tics but also comorbidities are recommended, as generally conventional pharmacotherapy for tics does not have positive effects on these patients. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T23:56:05Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d66a2fea14a143b3932c44482f23e220 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-2360 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T23:56:05Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Pediatrics |
| spelling | doaj.art-d66a2fea14a143b3932c44482f23e2202023-01-10T13:22:11ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Pediatrics2296-23602023-01-011010.3389/fped.2022.10038251003825Functional tic-like behaviours during the COVID-19 pandemic: Follow-up over 12 monthsAdriana Prato0Adriana Prato1Federica Saia2Maria Chiara Milana3Miriam Scerbo4Rita Barone5Renata Rizzo6Child and Adolescent Neurology and Psychiatric Section, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Catania University, Catania, ItalyDepartment of Cognitive Sciences, Psychology, Education and Cultural Studies, University of Messina, Messina, ItalyChild and Adolescent Neurology and Psychiatric Section, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Catania University, Catania, ItalyChild and Adolescent Neurology and Psychiatric Section, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Catania University, Catania, ItalyChild and Adolescent Neurology and Psychiatric Section, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Catania University, Catania, ItalyChild and Adolescent Neurology and Psychiatric Section, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Catania University, Catania, ItalyChild and Adolescent Neurology and Psychiatric Section, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Catania University, Catania, ItalyBackgroundFunctional tics are included in the wide spectrum of functional movement disorders (FMDs). Their distinction from organic tics is challenging because they both phenomenologically present common features. During the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an increase in functional tic-like behaviours in vulnerable children and adolescents after social media exposure. This study explores the phenomenology and course of a cohort of newly diagnosed functional tic-like behaviors.MethodsWe analysed clinical data of 243 patients affected by tic disorders collected at outpatient Tourette Clinic, Child and Adolescent Neurology and Psychiatry Unit, Catania University. Among the clinical cohort with functional tic-like behaviors, we evaluated the clinical course of symptoms at follow-up visits after 6 and 12 months.ResultsAmong the cohort of 243 patients referred for evaluation at our centre, 11 were diagnosed with functional tic–like behaviours. The majority of participants with functional tic–like behaviours were female with a mean age of 15 years old and presented an explosive symptom's onset. At follow-up visit after 12 months, patients with functional tic-like behaviors showed a significant variation in the severity of tics and anxiety symptoms. Conversely, depressive, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms did not significantly differ during the follow-up.ConclusionOur data suggest that several characteristics in clinical course and their phenomenology can help clinicians to distinguish functional tic–like behaviours from organic tics. Our results also suggest a better outcome for tics and anxiety symptoms respect on other comorbidities. A prompt diagnosis and management not only of tics but also comorbidities are recommended, as generally conventional pharmacotherapy for tics does not have positive effects on these patients.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fped.2022.1003825/fulltourette syndromefunctional ticsCOVID-19social mediafunctional movement disorders |
| spellingShingle | Adriana Prato Adriana Prato Federica Saia Maria Chiara Milana Miriam Scerbo Rita Barone Renata Rizzo Functional tic-like behaviours during the COVID-19 pandemic: Follow-up over 12 months Frontiers in Pediatrics tourette syndrome functional tics COVID-19 social media functional movement disorders |
| title | Functional tic-like behaviours during the COVID-19 pandemic: Follow-up over 12 months |
| title_full | Functional tic-like behaviours during the COVID-19 pandemic: Follow-up over 12 months |
| title_fullStr | Functional tic-like behaviours during the COVID-19 pandemic: Follow-up over 12 months |
| title_full_unstemmed | Functional tic-like behaviours during the COVID-19 pandemic: Follow-up over 12 months |
| title_short | Functional tic-like behaviours during the COVID-19 pandemic: Follow-up over 12 months |
| title_sort | functional tic like behaviours during the covid 19 pandemic follow up over 12 months |
| topic | tourette syndrome functional tics COVID-19 social media functional movement disorders |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fped.2022.1003825/full |
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