Objective:

To characterize sensory processing in youth with chronic tic disorder (CTD).

Background:

CTD, a common neurodevelopmental disorder, has a high prevalence of co-occurring neuropsychiatric disorders such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), attention deficit/hyperactive disorder (ADHD), and anxiety. Sensory processing abnormalities are commonly reported by patients, but the characteristics of abnormal sensory processing are not well described.

Design/Methods:

We enrolled subjects ages 6 to 17 with CTD. Sensory profiles were determined by the parent-proxy reported Short Sensory Profile 2 (SSP2) or the self-reported Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile, depending on subject age. Symptom severities for anxiety (Pediatric Anxiety Rating Scale), tics (Yale Global Tic Severity Scale-Total Tic Score (YGTSS-TTS), and premonitory urge severity (Premonitory Urge for Tics Scale (PUTS) were assessed. Anxiety disorder diagnoses were determined using the Anxiety and Related Disorders-IV Child and Parent Interview. OCD and ADHD diagnoses were determined based on DSM-5 criteria. Relationships between abnormal sensory profiles and co-occurring conditions were assessed by Fisher’s exact test. Relationships between urge severity and sensory profile were assessed by chi-square tests. Relationships between tic severity and sensory profile were assessed by ANOVA.

Results:

Thirty-one subjects completed sensory profiles. Abnormal sensory profiles were reported in registration (n=14, 45%), seeking (n=15, 48%), sensitivity (n=17, 55%), and avoidance (n=16, 52%) categories. Presence of co-occurring OCD was associated with abnormal sensory avoidance (p-value = 0.01). Presence of co-occurring ADHD disorder was associated with abnormal sensory sensitivity (p-value = 0.01). Greater tic severity was associated with abnormal sensory sensitivity (F(2,28) = 4.78, p-value = 0.04). Co-occurring anxiety disorder and urge severity were not significantly associated with abnormal sensory profiles.

Conclusions:

Youth with CTD, particularly those with co-occurring neuropsychiatric conditions, report abnormal sensory processing in various domains. Tic severity may be related to abnormal sensory sensitivity, which may be a target for management of tic symptoms.