Treatment of children and adolescents with tics and Tourette syndrome.
Tics, patterned movements distinct from stereotypies, myoclonus, and other hyperkinetic movements, are quite common in children, particularly among those with developmental and psychiatric disorders. Thus, tics can indicate the presence of atypical neurodevelopment or broader difficulties with cognition or mood. Tics are also the cardinal feature of Tourette syndrome, a childhood-onset neurobehavioral disorder characterized by a chronic inability to suppress or an urge to perform patterned, repetitive movements. Patients with Tourette syndrome most commonly have, in addition to tics, symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, obsessiveness, or anxiety. Achieving the most effective treatment of a child with tics is contingent on proper diagnosis of the movement disorder and thorough assessment for other problems, followed by consideration of both nonpharmacologic and pharmacologic interventions for any and all symptoms interfering with the child's function and quality of life. This review focuses primarily on the diagnosis and medical treatment of tics in children and adolescents with Tourette syndrome.
Gilbert
Donald
D
Movement Disorders and Tourette Syndrome Clinics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, OH 45229-3039, USA. tics@cchmc.org
D000293:Adolescent; D018759:Adrenergic Uptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000465:Algorithms; D002648:Child; D003663:Decision Trees; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D013981:Tic Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005879:Tourette Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D018759:Adrenergic Uptake Inhibitors; D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists