Demographic data and clinical features of childhood tic disorders

ABSTRACT Demographic Data And Clinical Features of Childhood Tic Disorders Objective: Although the pathogenesis of childhood tic disorders has not been sufficiently clarified, immune reactions triggered by infections, prenatal and perinatal factors, genetic and psychosocial stressors are held responsible for its pathogenesis. In this study, we aimed to investigate the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of children and adolescents diagnosed with tic disorders admitted to Cukurova University Faculty of Medicine, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department and, we believe that these will help to differentiate the tic disorders triggered by infections. Methods: The study population included 37 females and 150 males with tic disorders, aged between 4 and 18 years, admitted to the outpatient clinic of the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department, between November 2012 and December 2013. The data were obtained by using Yale Global Tic Severity Scale, Screen for Child Anxiety and Related Disorders, Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School Age Children-Present and Lifetime Version (K-SADS-PL). The demographic information, history of infection and rheumatic diseases were recorded. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS version 16.00. Results: This study was conducted on 187 children with Tic Disorders, including 150 (mean±SD: 10,9±2,7 years) boys and 37 (mean±SD: 10,9±2,5 year) girls, aged between 4 and 18 years (mean±SD:10,9±2,6 years). Of all cases, 104 were classified as PANDAS (n=104; 55,6%), 26 as non-PANDAS (n=26; 13,9%) and 57 as PANDASvariant (n=57; 30,5%) according to the diagnostic subgroups. No significant difference was detected in terms of mean age and mean age of onset of symptoms between girls and boys (p=0,845; p=0,095). Conclusions: The importance of this study is that it evaluates the association between phenomenology and the immune etiology triggered by infections in childhood tic disorders. Key Words: Tic disorder, PANDAS, phenomenology.