Treatment use among children with Tourette syndrome living in the United States, 2014

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Sara Beth Wolicki, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Research Participation Programs, Oak Ridge; Rebecca H Bitsko, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Research Participation Programs, Oak Ridge; Joseph R Holbrook, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Research Participation Programs, Oak Ridge; Melissa L Danielson, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Research Participation Programs, Oak Ridge; Benjamin Zablotsky, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Research Participation Programs, Oak Ridge; Lawrence Scahill, Emory University; John T Walkup, Northwestern University; Douglas W Woods, Marquette University; Jonthan W Mink, University of Rochester
• Language: English
• Date: 2020-11-01
• Publisher: ELSEVIER IRELAND LTD
• Publication Version: Author Accepted Manuscript (After Peer Review)
• Copyright Statement: Published by Elsevier B.V.
• License: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 International
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2020.113400
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: PSYCHIATRY RESEARCH
• Volume: 293
• Start Page: 113400
• End Page: 113400
• Keywords: Neurodevelopmental disorders; MANAGEMENT; PREVALENCE; CANADIAN GUIDELINES; Behavior therapy; Psychiatry; PEOPLE; Movement disorders; EUROPEAN CLINICAL GUIDELINES; Public health; Adolescents; ADOLESCENTS; Science & Technology; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; TIC DISORDERS; Medication; Tic Disorders

Abstract

Treatment of Tourette syndrome (TS) can be complicated by changes over time in tic expression, severity, and co-occurring disorders. Using the 2014 National Survey of the Diagnosis and Treatment of ADHD and Tourette Syndrome, this study provides descriptive estimates of the use of behavioral interventions and medication among children living with TS. Parent-reported data on 115 children aged 5–17 years ever diagnosed with TS were analyzed to provide descriptive, unweighted results. Overall, 77.4% of children had current or past use of any TS treatment; 59.1% ever used behavioral interventions and 56.1% had ever taken TS medication. Children with "moderate” or “severe” versus “mild” TS, ≥1 co-occurring disorders, and tics that interfered with functioning were significantly more likely to have used one or more TS treatments. Side effects were reported for 84.4% of children who took TS medication. Most parents of children with current TS (87.2%) were satisfied with the management of their child's TS. However, parents of children with “moderate” or “severe” current TS were significantly more dissatisfied compared to parents of children with “mild” TS. Findings from this study could be used to inform efforts to support children living with TS and their families.