Course of Tic Disorders Over the Lifespan

Purpose of Review To summarize and update information on the course of tic disorders from childhood through later life. Recent Findings Tics tend to improve substantially over the first year after they appear. However, contrary to widespread opinion, tics usually last longer than 1 year, though usually at minimal severity. Tics often wane to clinical insignificance over the teen years, possibly resurging occasionally over the lifespan. However, in an important minority of patients, tics remain clinically relevant throughout life. Tics rarely first come to clinical attention later in adulthood, but new reports describe additional such cases. Recent publications have shown tics to persist past a few months more often than previously thought, though often at minimal severity, and recurrence after an asymptomatic period is common. The safety and efficacy of behavior therapy for tics, together with prospective indicators of early prognosis, make feasible the possibility of bettering the lifetime course of tic disorders with early intervention.

Automated summary

Tic disorders often improve over the teen years, but can persist in some patients and recur throughout life. Recent studies have shown that tic symptoms may last longer than previously thought. Behavioral therapy and early prognosis indicators offer the possibility of improving the lifetime course of tic disorders with early intervention.