ReviewMovement disorders clinical practice2024
A Critical Examination of the Clinical Diagnosis of Functional Tic-like Behaviors.
Review in Movement disorders clinical practice, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- Differentiating tics and functional tic-like behaviours in children and young people: personal and family mental health profiles and their clinical implications.European child & adolescent psychiatry · 2026Article
- Neurodevelopmental Tics with Co-Morbid Functional Tic-like Behaviors: Diagnostic Challenges of a Complex Tourette Syndrome Phenotype.Brain sciences · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundSince the COVID-19 pandemic, movement disorder clinics have seen an increase in patients with an unusual type of tic-like symptoms: young adults with abrupt onset complex behaviors. It was quickly suspected that these patients suffered from functional neurological symptoms, later named Functional Tic-Like Behaviors (FTLB). Subsequent research on the differential diagnosis between FTLB and tics has been substantial and led to the development of diagnostic checklists.
objectivesWe conducted a theoretical reappraisal of the FTLB literature to clarify the validity of the concept and its diagnostic implications.
methodsThis paper addresses several key aspects of the current FTLB literature: circular reasoning, the complications of the FTLB phenomenology and demographics, the impact of FTLB on tic literature at large, and issues with alignment of the FTLB concept with the diagnostic criteria for functional disorders.
resultsThe clinical approach to FTLB might involve circular reasoning due to a lack of clinical benchmarks. The FTLB phenomenology and demographics may need more work to ensure a lack of bias and a proper description of this patient group including a clear distinction from tics. The impact of the FTLB discussion on the wider literature needs consideration. The validation of positive signs may help with both these endeavors and pave way to the inclusion of FTLB within psychiatric classification systems. Furthermore, the coexistence of FTLB and tics within the same patient needs to be addressed.
conclusionMore research may be needed to fully establish the diagnosis of FTLB and differentiate it from tics.
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