Premonitory sensory phenomenon in Tourette's syndrome.
We administered a questionnaire designed to probe for premonitory sensations associated with motor tics to 50 patients with Tourette's syndrome (TS). Premonitory sensations were reported by 46 (92%) patients, and the most common sensation was an urge to move and an impulse to tic ("had to do it"). Intensification of premonitory sensations, if prevented from performing a motor tic, was reported also in 37 patients (74%), 36 patients (72%) reported relief of premonitory sensations after performing the tic, and 27 of 40 (68%) described a motor tic as a voluntary motor response to an involuntary sensation, rather than a completely involuntary movement. The "just right" sensation correlated with the presence of co-morbid obsessive-compulsive disorder. We conclude that premonitory sensations are an important aspect of motor tics and some patients perceive motor tics as a voluntary movement in response to an involuntary sensation.
Kwak
Carolyn
C
Parkinson's Disease Center and Movement Disorders Clinic, Department of Neurology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA.
Dat Vuong
Kevin
K
Jankovic
Joseph
J
D000328:Adult; D001132:Arm; D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003265:Contingent Negative Variation / Q000502:physiology; D005145:Face; D005260:Female; D005528:Foot; D006225:Hand; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009333:Neck; D009433:Neural Inhibition / Q000502:physiology; D009465:Neuromuscular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010614:Pharynx; D012678:Sensation Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012782:Shoulder; D013270:Stomach; D005879:Tourette Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology*
D009465:Neuromuscular Agents; D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A