Sleep and chronotype in adults with persistent tic disorders.
Emily J Ricketts1, Gabrielle E Montalbano1, Helen J Burgess2
1Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Journal of Clinical Psychology
|February 12, 2022
Summary
Adults with persistent tic disorders (PTDs) commonly experience sleep disturbances like insomnia and bruxism. Impairment and obsessive-compulsive symptoms significantly impact sleep quality in this population.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Sleep Medicine
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Persistent tic disorders (PTDs), including Tourette's disorder (TD), often present with complex comorbidities.
- Sleep disturbances are frequently reported in individuals with PTDs, impacting overall well-being and symptom management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence of sleep disorders and medication use in adults with PTDs.
- To explore the relationship between sleep characteristics (e.g., chronotype, disturbance) and tic severity, as well as co-occurring symptoms.
- To identify potential intervention targets for improving sleep in this population.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional internet survey was administered to 125 adults with PTDs.
- Participants reported on sleep history, chronotype, tic severity, functional impairment, and various co-occurring symptoms (ADHD, OCD, anxiety, depression).
Main Results:
- Bruxism, insomnia, difficulty falling asleep due to tics, and melatonin use were frequently reported.
- Sleep disturbance showed significant correlations with functional impairment, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, and emotional/behavioral dyscontrol.
- Eveningness (a later chronotype) was associated with increased vocal and total tic severity, specifically in Tourette's disorder (TD).
- Regression analyses indicated that age, impairment, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms predicted sleep disturbance, while age and tic severity predicted chronotype.
Conclusions:
- Functional impairment and obsessive-compulsive symptoms are significant contributors to sleep disturbance in adults with PTDs, suggesting they are key targets for therapeutic interventions.
- The association between eveningness and tic severity in TD may indicate the potential benefit of chronotype-advancing interventions.
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