Paediatric tic-like presentations during the COVID-19 pandemic

Sarah Buts; Morvwen Duncan; Tamsin Owen; Davide Martino; Tamara Pringsheim; Susan Byrne; Andrew McWilliams; Tara Murphy; Osman Malik; Holan Liang; Isobel Heyman; Tammy Hedderly

doi:10.1136/archdischild-2021-323002

Paediatric tic-like presentations during the COVID-19 pandemic

Sarah Buts, Morvwen Duncan, Tamsin Owen, Davide Martino, Tamara Pringsheim, Susan Byrne, Andrew McWilliams, Tara Murphy, Osman Malik, Holan Liang, Isobel Heyman, Tammy Hedderly

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

48 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Clinical centres have seen an increase in tic-like movements during the COVID-19 pandemic. A series of children and adolescents are described. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of 34 consecutive paediatric patients presenting with sudden onset tic-like movements, seen over 6 months. RESULTS: 94% of patients were female, with an average age of sudden onset or increase of tic-like movements of 13.7 years. 44% had a previous diagnosis of tics, and 47% initially presented to an emergency department. Comorbid psychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders were reported in 91% with 68% reporting anxiety. CONCLUSION: We highlight a dramatic presentation of sudden onset functional tic-like movements in predominantly female adolescents to help inform identification and management. There is need to research the neurobiological underpinnings and environmental exacerbating factors leading to these presentations and to explore effective therapeutic strategies.

Original language	English
Article number	archdischild-2021-323002
Pages (from-to)	e17
Journal	Archives of Disease in Childhood
Volume	107
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1136/archdischild-2021-323002
Publication status	Published - 1 Mar 2022

Keywords

adolescent health
child psychiatry
neurology
paediatric emergency medicine
psychology

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10.1136/archdischild-2021-323002

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title = "Paediatric tic-like presentations during the COVID-19 pandemic",

abstract = "BACKGROUND AND AIM: Clinical centres have seen an increase in tic-like movements during the COVID-19 pandemic. A series of children and adolescents are described. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of 34 consecutive paediatric patients presenting with sudden onset tic-like movements, seen over 6 months. RESULTS: 94% of patients were female, with an average age of sudden onset or increase of tic-like movements of 13.7 years. 44% had a previous diagnosis of tics, and 47% initially presented to an emergency department. Comorbid psychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders were reported in 91% with 68% reporting anxiety. CONCLUSION: We highlight a dramatic presentation of sudden onset functional tic-like movements in predominantly female adolescents to help inform identification and management. There is need to research the neurobiological underpinnings and environmental exacerbating factors leading to these presentations and to explore effective therapeutic strategies.",

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T1 - Paediatric tic-like presentations during the COVID-19 pandemic

AU - Buts, Sarah

AU - Duncan, Morvwen

AU - Owen, Tamsin

AU - Martino, Davide

AU - Pringsheim, Tamara

AU - Byrne, Susan

AU - McWilliams, Andrew

AU - Murphy, Tara

AU - Malik, Osman

AU - Liang, Holan

AU - Heyman, Isobel

AU - Hedderly, Tammy

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2021. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.

PY - 2022/3/1

Y1 - 2022/3/1

N2 - BACKGROUND AND AIM: Clinical centres have seen an increase in tic-like movements during the COVID-19 pandemic. A series of children and adolescents are described. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of 34 consecutive paediatric patients presenting with sudden onset tic-like movements, seen over 6 months. RESULTS: 94% of patients were female, with an average age of sudden onset or increase of tic-like movements of 13.7 years. 44% had a previous diagnosis of tics, and 47% initially presented to an emergency department. Comorbid psychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders were reported in 91% with 68% reporting anxiety. CONCLUSION: We highlight a dramatic presentation of sudden onset functional tic-like movements in predominantly female adolescents to help inform identification and management. There is need to research the neurobiological underpinnings and environmental exacerbating factors leading to these presentations and to explore effective therapeutic strategies.

AB - BACKGROUND AND AIM: Clinical centres have seen an increase in tic-like movements during the COVID-19 pandemic. A series of children and adolescents are described. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of 34 consecutive paediatric patients presenting with sudden onset tic-like movements, seen over 6 months. RESULTS: 94% of patients were female, with an average age of sudden onset or increase of tic-like movements of 13.7 years. 44% had a previous diagnosis of tics, and 47% initially presented to an emergency department. Comorbid psychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders were reported in 91% with 68% reporting anxiety. CONCLUSION: We highlight a dramatic presentation of sudden onset functional tic-like movements in predominantly female adolescents to help inform identification and management. There is need to research the neurobiological underpinnings and environmental exacerbating factors leading to these presentations and to explore effective therapeutic strategies.

KW - adolescent health

KW - child psychiatry

KW - neurology

KW - paediatric emergency medicine

KW - psychology

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DO - 10.1136/archdischild-2021-323002

M3 - Article

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AN - SCOPUS:85124850418

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JO - Archives of Disease in Childhood

JF - Archives of Disease in Childhood

IS - 3

M1 - archdischild-2021-323002

ER -

Paediatric tic-like presentations during the COVID-19 pandemic

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