title: Attenuation of apparent new-onset ocular tics with successful treatment of PTSD.
abstract: This case report describes a patient with reportedly new onset of tics, beginning at 21 years of age, in the context of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and comorbid alcohol abuse, with no known head injury. The setting is an American Society of Addiction Medicine intensive outpatient substance abuse rehabilitation program in an United States Army Medical Center. The patient is a 22-year-old male diagnosed with alcohol abuse and delayed PTSD who presented to the program's medical officer due to insomnia. We discovered he had a reportedly new ocular tic of appoximately 9 months duration, which he claimed developed at 21 years of age soon after returning from 1 year of combat duty. The patient was thoroughly evaluated, and we surmised the tic was a symptom of PTSD. After achieving full remission from alcohol, the tic persisted. However, as his PTSD symptoms remitted, so did his tic symptoms. At 6-month follow-up, the patient reported he was essentially free from PTSD symptoms, and his tic was significantly reduced.
authors.affiliation: Department of Behavioral Health, Bayne Jones Army Community Hospital, Fort Polk, LA 71459, USA. patrick.c.hayes@us.army.mil
authors.forename: Patrick C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Hayes
authors.forename: Charles L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Weber
authors.forename: Michael B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Gallagher
authors.forename: Gary J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Drouillard
mesh_terms: D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015283:Citalopram / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D020323:Tics / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation; D015283:Citalopram