title: Self-initiated coping with Tourette's syndrome: Effect of tic suppression on QOL.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Because of the semi-voluntary nature of tics, patients with Tourette' syndrome (TS) often report self-initiated coping with tics. Our goals were to understand the experiences of self-initiated coping with tics by individuals with TS (e.g., suppression frequency, suppression ability, and side effects of tic suppression), and investigate the effects of tic control on quality of life (QOL).
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred participants with TS (38 children and 62 adults) answered a questionnaire concerning tic control, QOL, and other clinical characteristics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty-eight percent of the participants always or frequently tried to suppress tics daily. In contrast, over 90% felt uncomfortable or incomplete when they suppressed tics and needed concentration or extra effort to suppress them. Thirty-four percent could suppress tics for less than one minute and 65% could suppress tics for less than 10min. Higher subjective satisfaction with tic control was positively correlated with life satisfaction and QOL.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Individuals with TS often attempt self-initiated coping in their daily lives, especially through tic suppression, despite experiencing subjective discomfort and being aware that the duration of tic suppression is often limited. Moreover, it was found that their subjective satisfaction with tic control and effective tic suppression might have a positive influence on their life satisfaction and QOL. Thus, self-initiated coping with tics is vital for improving the QOL of individuals with TS and intervention aimed at enhancing subjective satisfaction with tic control could help manage TS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Child Psychiatry, The University of Tokyo Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Natsumi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Matsuda
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Toshiaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kono
authors.affiliation: Department of Child Psychiatry, The University of Tokyo Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Maiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nonaka
authors.affiliation: Department of Child Psychiatry, The University of Tokyo Hospital, Tokyo, Japan; Graduate School of Education, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Miyuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fujio
authors.affiliation: Department of Child Psychiatry, The University of Tokyo Hospital, Tokyo, Japan; Department of Child Neuropsychiatry, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan. Electronic address: kano-tky@umin.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Yukiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kano
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological / Q000502:physiology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011788:Quality of Life; D057566:Self Report; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D020323:Tics / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D005879:Tourette Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*
keywords: Coping strategies; Negative rebound effect; Quality of life; Tic suppression; Tics; Tourette’s syndrome