Abstract
Tic disorders (TD), including chronic/persistent TD (CTD) and Tourette syndrome, have
been described and studied for many years. Within the last two decades, intensified
study efforts led to more specific assumptions about genesis and influences of both
hereditary and environmental factors. TD in children and adolescents are very often
accompanied by attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorders and obsessive-compulsive
disorders (OCD) as comorbid disorders. Comorbidities are aggravating factors concerning
prognosis and treatment opportunities. Therefore, etiological considerations and treatment
strategies have to take associated psychiatric disorders into account. Treatment approaches
are symptom targeted and include behavioral treatments and/or medication and show
positive outcomes concerning tic symptomatology, global functioning, and associated
psychopathology. This review presents an update of the research, definitions, and
classification according to ICD-10 and DSM-5 and summarizes the diagnostic procedures
and most effective clinical strategies.
Keywords
tic disorders - Tourette syndrome - etiology - treatment - children and adolescents