Treatment use among children with Tourette syndrome living in the United States, 2014

Sara Beth Wolicki*, Rebecca H. Bitsko, Joseph R. Holbrook, Melissa L. Danielson, Benjamin Zablotsky, Lawrence Scahill, John T. Walkup, Douglas W. Woods, Jonathan W. Mink

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

7 Scopus citations

Abstract

Treatment of Tourette syndrome (TS) can be complicated by changes over time in tic expression, severity, and co-occurring disorders. Using the 2014 National Survey of the Diagnosis and Treatment of ADHD and Tourette Syndrome, this study provides descriptive estimates of the use of behavioral interventions and medication among children living with TS. Parent-reported data on 115 children aged 5–17 years ever diagnosed with TS were analyzed to provide descriptive, unweighted results. Overall, 77.4% of children had current or past use of any TS treatment; 59.1% ever used behavioral interventions and 56.1% had ever taken TS medication. Children with "moderate” or “severe” versus “mild” TS, ≥1 co-occurring disorders, and tics that interfered with functioning were significantly more likely to have used one or more TS treatments. Side effects were reported for 84.4% of children who took TS medication. Most parents of children with current TS (87.2%) were satisfied with the management of their child's TS. However, parents of children with “moderate” or “severe” current TS were significantly more dissatisfied compared to parents of children with “mild” TS. Findings from this study could be used to inform efforts to support children living with TS and their families.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number113400
JournalPsychiatry Research
Volume293
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2020

Funding

Jonathan W. Mink, MD, PhD is a consultant for Biomarin, Inc; Censa, Inc; Abide Therapeutics, Inc, Abide Therapeutics, Inc., TEVA Inc.; Has research contracts with Abeona, Inc.; receives honoraria from the American Academy of Neurology (Associate Editor of Neurology); receives royalties from Elsevier, Inc.; receives grant funding from NIH, Batten Disease Support and Research Association, Batten Research Alliance, Association of University Centers of Disabilities. This research was supported in part by an appointment to the Research Participation Program at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention administered by the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education through an interagency agreement between the U.S. Department of Energy and CDC.

Keywords

  • Adolescents
  • Behavior therapy
  • Medication
  • Movement disorders
  • Neurodevelopmental disorders
  • Public health
  • Tic Disorders

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Psychiatry and Mental health
  • Biological Psychiatry

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