This is an inherited neuropsychiatric disorder with onset in childhood. It is characterized by the presence of multiple physical motor tics (APA 2013). These tics come and go most usually during the day hours. The more common tics are eye blinking, coughing, throat clearing, sniffing, and facial movements. The severity of tics decreases for most children as they pass through adolescence. In most cases medication is not necessary, but there are medications and therapies that can help when their use is justified as the disorder can present in severe forms in early childhood. Psychoeducation is an important part of treatment.
References:
American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing.
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