ArticleBrain and behavior2024
Time is ticking for TikTok tics: A retrospective follow-up study in the post-COVID-19 isolation era.
Article in Brain and behavior, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers.
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Who cites it
8 citing papers in PubMed.
- Psychiatric comorbidity in functional tics: a scoping review.BMC psychiatry · 2026Article
- Update on the Pathophysiology and Management of Tics.Current neurology and neuroscience reports · 2026Review
- The Digital Diagnostic Odyssey: Artificial Intelligence and Social Media Crowdsourcing Amid Pediatric Neurology Access Gaps.Annals of the Child Neurology Society · 2026Article
- Long-Term Follow-Up of Patients with Mass Social Media-Induced Illness Presenting with Functional Tic-like Behaviors.Movement disorders clinical practice · 2026Article
- A systematic review of functional neurological disorder in transgender people.International journal of transgender health · 2026Review
- Neurodevelopmental Tics with Co-Morbid Functional Tic-like Behaviors: Diagnostic Challenges of a Complex Tourette Syndrome Phenotype.Brain sciences · 2025Article
- Functional Tic-like Behaviors: From the COVID-19 Pandemic to the Post-Pandemic Era.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2024Review
- Time is ticking for TikTok tics: A retrospective follow-up study in the post-COVID-19 isolation era.Brain and behavior · 2024Article
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Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
introductionDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, an influx of adolescents presented worldwide with acute onset of functional tic-like behaviors (FTLBs). Our goal was to evaluate psychosocial factors around onset, to elucidate outcomes after pandemic isolation protocols were lifted, and to examine therapy and medication management.
methodsA retrospective review was performed of 56 patients ages 10-18 years with new-onset FTLBs seen at Boston Children's Hospital beginning in March 2020. Demographic factors, medical history, and treatment were evaluated. Patient outcomes were determined retrospectively based on the Clinical Global Impression Improvement (CGI-I) and Severity (CGI-S) scales from follow-up visits. CGI-I scores assessed the progression of FTLBs; CGI-S assessed overall function.
resultsNinety-six percent of patients were female-assigned at birth with high rates of comorbid anxiety (93%) and depression (71%). Forty-five percent were gender-diverse. Based on scales that assessed FTLBs (CGI-I) and overall functioning (CGI-S), up to 79% of patients improved independent of comorbid diagnosis or treatment. Evidence-based tic-specific treatments were not more effective than other treatments. A subset of patients had improvement in their FTLBs but not in their general functioning and continued to have other psychosomatic presentations.
conclusionWhile many patients' FTLBs improved, it is critical to remain alert to patients' overall function and to assess for other functional neurological disorders and mental health concerns. The tendency of FTLBs to improve in this population, independent of treatment, highlights the unique pathophysiology of FTLBs. Future research on contributing psychosocial factors and specific treatment protocols will allow optimal support for these patients.
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