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Tic disorders in children with frequent eye blinking
Hee-Yeon Jung1, Sun-Ju Chung, Jeong-Min Hwang
1Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul Municipal Boramae Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
Summary
Most children with frequent eye blinking have transient tic disorders. Psychiatric consultation is recommended for persistent blinking, as tic severity correlates with duration and attention issues.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Child Psychiatry
Background:
- Frequent eye blinking in children can be a concerning symptom.
- Understanding the underlying causes is crucial for effective management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the role of psychiatric consultation in children experiencing frequent eye blinking.
- To identify potential psychiatric links to persistent eye blinking in pediatric patients.
Main Methods:
- Prospective evaluation of 50 children under 16 with frequent eye blinking.
- Exclusion of cases due to refractive errors or intermittent exotropia.
- Psychiatric and ophthalmologic examinations, with assessment of tic severity and behavioral problems.
Main Results:
- Tic disorders diagnosed in 43 children, predominantly transient tic disorder (39 cases).
- Severity of tics correlated with symptom duration, somatic complaints, and attention problems.
- No significant differences in mothering or behavioral problems compared to controls.
Conclusions:
- Transient tic disorder is the most common diagnosis for frequent eye blinking in children.
- Long-standing tics may impact somatic symptoms and attention.
- Psychiatric evaluation is advised for persistent, frequent eye blinking in children.