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Getting the latest healthcare news for you
Diagnosing and managing Tourette syndrome (TS) is getting more complex, especially as functional tic-like behaviors (FTLBs) surged during COVID. A new phase 3 trial of ecopipam — a dopamine D1 receptor antagonist — showed a 53% reduction in relapse risk in kids and teens with TS, with no movement disorder side effects. Treatment should be tailored to symptom severity, from education and CBT to antipsychotics and deep brain stimulation.
Tourette syndrome (TS) has always been tricky to manage, but clinicians are now navigating an added layer of complexity: distinguishing classic TS from functional tic-like behaviors (FTLBs), which spiked during the COVID-19 pandemic. While TS typically starts in childhood and is more common in boys, FTLBs tend to emerge in adolescent girls and young women, often alongside anxiety, depression, and psychosocial stressors — and social media exposure to tic-related content may be a contributing factor.
Comorbidities like ADHD, OCD, anxiety, and autism spectrum disorder are common in TS and can complicate both diagnosis and treatment. Management is highly personalized: mild cases may only need education and psychological support, while moderate-to-severe cases may call for cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), antipsychotics like aripiprazole, botulinum toxin injections, or even deep brain stimulation for the most refractory cases.
Key Takeaways:
Why it matters: With FTLBs on the rise and new pharmacologic options emerging, clinicians need updated frameworks for both accurate diagnosis and individualized treatment planning in TS.
