Objective In patients with Tourette syndrome and other primary tic disorders (PTDs), tics are typically preceded by premonitory urges (PUs). To date, only a few studies have investigated the location and frequency of PUs, and contrary to clinical experience, the results suggest that PUs are not located in the same anatomic region as the tics. This study aimed to further explore PU location and frequency in detail, differentiating the kind and complexity of the corresponding tics, in a large sample of patients with PTD.
Methods A total of 291 adult (≥ 18 years) patients with a confirmed diagnosis of chronic PTD were included. The study was conducted online, assement included tics and the general characterization of PUs and a sophisticated body drawing for locating PUs.
Results We found that PUs were located in the same body area as, or in direct proximity to, the corresponding tic. Most frequently, PUs were located in the face and at the head (62.1%). Compared with simple tics, complex (motor and vocal) tics were more often preceded by a PU; but there was no difference in PU frequency observed between motor tics and vocal tics. PUs were more often experienced at the front than at the back of the body (73% vs. 27%), while there was no difference between the right and left sides (41.6% vs. 41.3%).
Conclusion The strong association between PU and tic location further supports the hypothesis that PUs represent the core of PTD. Accordingly, future therapies should focus on treating PUs to achieve greater tic reduction.
Citations
Citations to this article as recorded by
Door-To-Door Video-Enhanced Prevalence Study of Tourette Disorder Among African Americans Catherine Striley, Kevin J. Black, Natalie E. Chichetto, Lauren Vagelakos Evidence-Based Practice in Child and Adolescent Mental Health.2024; 9(2): 281. CrossRef
Functional Tic‐Like Behaviors: A Common Comorbidity in Patients with Tourette Syndrome Kirsten R. Müller‐Vahl, Anna Pisarenko, Carolin Fremer, Martina Haas, Ewgeni Jakubovski, Natalia Szejko Movement Disorders Clinical Practice.2024; 11(3): 227. CrossRef
Parent-Report Sleep Disturbances and Everyday Executive Functioning Difficulties in Children with Tourette Syndrome Lisa Keenan, Jessica Bramham, Michelle Downes Developmental Neuropsychology.2024; 49(1): 39. CrossRef
Premonitory Urge in Patients with Tics and Functional Tic‐like Behaviors Natalia Szejko, Julian Fletcher, Davide Martino, Tamara Pringsheim Movement Disorders Clinical Practice.2024; 11(3): 276. CrossRef
A meta-analysis of transcranial magnetic stimulation in Tourette syndrome Elizabeth R. Steuber, Joseph F. McGuire Journal of Psychiatric Research.2024; 173: 34. CrossRef
Sensory Phenomenon Assessment Scale: a new tool for assessment of tic-associated sensations Xianbin Wang, Yanlin Li, Liping Yu, Hui Xu, Anyi Zhang, Wenyan Zhang, Zhongliang Jiang, Yonghua Cui, Ying Li Frontiers in Psychiatry.2024;[Epub] CrossRef
We've all been wrong about provisional tic disorder Sarah C. Grossen, Amanda L. Arbuckle, Emily C. Bihun, Jonathan M. Koller, David Y. Song, Angela M. Reiersen, Bradley L. Schlaggar, Deanna J. Greene, Kevin J. Black Comprehensive Psychiatry.2024; 134: 152510. CrossRef
Validation and assessment of the self-injurious behavior scale for tic disorders (SIBS-T) Natalia Szejko, Heike große Schlarmann, Anna Pisarenko, Martina Haas, Valerie Brandt, Ewgeni Jakubovski, Kirsten R. Müller-Vahl Scientific Reports.2024;[Epub] CrossRef
Premonitory Urge and Tic Severity, Comorbidities, and Quality of Life in Chronic Tic Disorders Valerie Brandt, Jana Essing, Ewgeni Jakubovski, Kirsten Müller‐Vahl Movement Disorders Clinical Practice.2023; 10(6): 922. CrossRef
Motor awareness, volition, and the cortical neurophysiology of simple motor tics Aysegul Gunduz, Christos Ganos Clinical Neurophysiology.2023; 151: 130. CrossRef
Tourette syndrome research highlights from 2022 Andreas Hartmann, Per Andrén, Cyril Atkinson-Clément, Virginie Czernecki, Cécile Delorme, Nanette Marinette Monique Debes, Kirsten Müller-Vahl, Peristera Paschou, Natalia Szejko, Apostolia Topaloudi, Keisuke Ueda, Kevin J. Black F1000Research.2023; 12: 826. CrossRef
Tourette syndrome research highlights from 2022 Andreas Hartmann, Per Andrén, Cyril Atkinson-Clément, Virginie Czernecki, Cécile Delorme, Nanette Marinette Monique Debes, Kirsten Müller-Vahl, Peristera Paschou, Natalia Szejko, Apostolia Topaloudi, Keisuke Ueda, Kevin J. Black F1000Research.2023; 12: 826. CrossRef
Clinical evaluation of premonitory urges in children and adolescents using the Chinese version of Individualized Premonitory Urge for Tics Scale Guanghua Che, Wenjing Ren, Joseph F. McGuire, Ping Li, Zhiruo Zhao, Jing Tian, Jinyuan Zhang, Yue Zhang Frontiers in Psychiatry.2023;[Epub] CrossRef
Mass social media-induced illness presenting with Tourette-like behavior Carolin Fremer, Natalia Szejko, Anna Pisarenko, Martina Haas, Luise Laudenbach, Claudia Wegener, Kirsten R. Müller-Vahl Frontiers in Psychiatry.2022;[Epub] CrossRef
Tics bei Erwachsenen Tina Rawish, Gesine Sallandt, Alexander Münchau NeuroTransmitter.2022; 33(12): 38. CrossRef