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The Current Understanding of Premonitory Urge Phenomena in Chronic Tic Disorders

  • Child and Developmental Psychiatry (M Grados, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Behavioral Neuroscience Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

The goal of this review is to collect the progress made in the area of premonitory urge research in the areas of demographics, psychometrics, neurologic, psychopharmacology, and behavioral psychotherapy.

Recent Findings

Individuals with no previous treatment for tics have differing levels of control over their ability to suppress tics. It is unclear if tic suppression reliably causes predictable and uniform changes in urge severity. The literature is unclear regarding the role of comorbid psychological conditions with respect to urge severity. Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics (CBIT) and several pharmacological treatments have shown decreases in tic severity but it is not clear if there are corresponding decreases in urge severity.

Summary

Premonitory urges are prevalent sensations reported by individuals with tic disorders prior to the completion of a tic. Although there has been a recent increase in research on this topic over the past decade, several issues regarding the nature of urges remain ambiguous or in contention. Here, the authors have compiled a brief review of the literature which directly addresses current day understanding of premonitory urges.

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Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance •• Of major importance

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Bloomberg Children’s Center, Level 12, Johns Hopkins Hospital, 1800 Orleans Street, Baltimore, MD, 21283, USA

    Jeremy M. Raines

  2. Weill Cornell Medical College, New York Presbyterian Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 21 Bloomingdale Road, White Plains, NY, 10605, USA

    Matt W. Specht

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  1. Jeremy M. Raines
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Correspondence to Matt W. Specht.

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Conflict of Interest

Funding for the studies described in this presentation was provided by the TouretteSyndrome Association. Dr. Specht also received payment from the Tourette Syndrome Association for a speaking engagement. The terms of this arrangement are being managed by the Johns Hopkins University in accordance with its conflict of interest policies. Jeremy M. Raines declares no conflict of interest.

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

All reported studies/experiments with human or animal subjects performed by the authors have been previously published and complied with all applicable ethical standards (including the Helsinki Declaration and its amendments, institutional/national research committee standards, and international/national/institutional guidelines).

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Child and Developmental Psychiatry

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Raines, J.M., Specht, M.W. The Current Understanding of Premonitory Urge Phenomena in Chronic Tic Disorders. Curr Behav Neurosci Rep 3, 368–375 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40473-016-0099-9

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