Comparison of tic characteristics between children and adults

There are limited data about clinical characteristics of tics in adults. We performed a video and chart retrospective longitudinal review of patients diagnosed with tics from a tertiary referral medical center to compare tic characteristics between adults and children. Tic severity in 40 children and 31 adults was assessed using the modified Rush videotape rating scale and the Yale global tic severity scale (YGTSS). Baseline tic severity scores were similar in adults when compared with children (P = 0.11). In follow-up visits, compared to baseline total YGTSS scores were significantly reduced in both children (P < 0.003) and adults (P < 0.0009), but children were less frequently treated with medications for tics (P = 0.004) when compared with adults. Tic phenomenology and severity were similar between children and adults, but pharmacological tic management was different, perhaps reflecting a practice trend to avoid medications in children.