Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 14, 2026
07:38
Generating Acute and Chronic Experimental Models of Motor Tic Expression in Rats
Published on: May 27, 2021
8.9K
What Do We Currently Know About Functional Tic-Like Behaviors: A Topical Review
Kaja Andersen1, Natalia Szejko2, Kirsten R Müller-Vahl3
1Department of Pediatrics, Copenhagen University Hospital-Herlev and Gentofte, Herlev, Herlev, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Pediatric Neurology
|March 12, 2026
Summary
Functional tic-like behaviors (FTLBs) present with complex symptoms and comorbidities, often persisting over time. Cognitive therapies show promise for treatment, though more research is needed.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Psychiatry
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Functional tic-like behaviors (FTLBs) have garnered significant research interest in recent years.
- Understanding the characteristics and treatment of FTLBs is crucial for clinical practice.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize current research on FTLBs.
- To provide an overview of the patient group's characteristics, follow-up, and treatment.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature search of PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science.
- Inclusion and exclusion criteria applied to select 24 relevant papers.
- Summarized extracted data on FTLB characteristics, follow-ups, and treatments.
Main Results:
- FTLB patients exhibit higher symptom severity, complexity, and rates of anxiety/depression compared to Tourette Syndrome (TS) patients.
- TS patients showed higher rates of simple tics and ADHD/OCD comorbidities.
- Follow-up data suggest symptom reduction over time, but spontaneous remission is uncommon; cognitive therapies demonstrated good efficacy.
Conclusions:
- The FTLB patient group has diverse symptoms that tend to persist.
- Cognitive treatments appear effective for FTLBs.
- Further research, especially on treatment, is warranted.
Related Concept Videos
01:24Operant Conditioning Intervention
601
Operant conditioning serves as a foundational principle in therapeutic interventions aimed at modifying maladaptive behaviors. Central to this approach is the notion that behaviors, both adaptive and maladaptive, are learned through reinforcement. By analyzing the environmental factors that reinforce problematic behaviors, clinicians can design interventions to weaken these reinforcements and replace maladaptive behaviors with healthier alternatives.
In operant conditioning, behaviors that are...
In operant conditioning, behaviors that are...
601
01:22Behavior Therapy
887
Behavior therapy incorporates diverse techniques rooted in classical conditioning principles to address maladaptive behaviors and anxiety disorders. These methods aim to reduce avoidance behaviors, foster adaptive coping mechanisms, and alter associations between stimuli and responses, making them effective in a wide range of therapeutic contexts.
Exposure therapy is a cornerstone of behavioral treatment for anxiety disorders. It involves systematic exposure to feared stimuli, either in real...
Exposure therapy is a cornerstone of behavioral treatment for anxiety disorders. It involves systematic exposure to feared stimuli, either in real...
887
01:26Modeling in Therapy
652
Modeling, a key technique in therapy, uses observational learning to help clients acquire and practice new skills by watching therapists demonstrate desired behaviors. This approach, rooted in Albert Bandura's concept of vicarious learning, plays a significant role in therapeutic interventions for various psychological conditions, including social anxiety, ADHD, and depression.
Participant Modeling
Participant modeling involves therapists demonstrating calm and effective behaviors in...
Participant Modeling
Participant modeling involves therapists demonstrating calm and effective behaviors in...
652