• Home

Home > Medical Reference > Encyclopedia (English)

Toggle: English / Spanish

Chronic motor tic disorder

• Overview
• Symptoms
• Treatment

Alternative Names:

Chronic vocal tic disorder; Tic - chronic motor tic disorder

Treatment:

Treatment depends on how bad the tics are and how the condition affects a person. Medicines and psychotherapy are used only when the tics have a substantial impact on daily activities, such as school and job performance.

Drugs used to treat tics include dopamine blockers, such as pimozide and risperidone. However, they are not always successful and can cause side effects.

Expectations (prognosis):

Children who develop this disorder between ages 6 and 8 do very well. Symptoms may last 4 to 6 years, and then stop without treatment in early adolescence.

When the disorder begins in older children and continues into the 20s, it may become a life-long condition.

Complications:

There are usually no complications.

Calling your health care provider:

There is usually no need to see the health care provider for a tic unless it is severe or becomes disruptive to the person's life.

If you can not tell if the movements are a tic or something more serious (such as a seizure ), consult with your health care provider.

• Review Date: 4/28/2006
• Reviewed By: Daniel Kantor, M.D., Director of the Comprehensive MS Center, Neuroscience Institute, University of Florida Health Science Center, Jacksonville, FL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is the first of its kind, requiring compliance with 53 standards of quality and accountability, verified by independent audit. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial process . A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics (www.hiethics.com) and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 1997-2007 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.