An epidemiological study of tics

Jpn J Psychiatry Neurol. 1990 Dec;44(4):649-55. doi: 10.1111/j.1440-1819.1990.tb01641.x.

Abstract

We devised a questionnaire for estimation of each tic, and used a two-step investigation procedure, first by a parent questionnaire with 1,218 responses and second by a confirmatory telephone interview for 197 positive responses. The average estimated values were 11.3% for boys and 5.2% for girls. The prevalences were--blinking: 4.2%, head-jerking: 1.6%, shrugging: 1.2%, mouth-twitching: 0.6%, face-distortion: 0.5%, mouth-opening: 0%, throat-clearing: 2.7%, sniffing: 0.6%, and vocalization: 0.2%. According to the criteria in DSM-III-R, 5.1% of 1,218 had TTD, 2.2% had CMVTD, and 0.5% had Tourette disorder.

MeSH terms

  • Blepharospasm / epidemiology
  • Blepharospasm / etiology
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Japan / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Tic Disorders / epidemiology*
  • Tic Disorders / etiology
  • Tourette Syndrome / epidemiology
  • Tourette Syndrome / etiology