Pandemic Tic‐like Behaviors Following Social Media Consumption

Abstract

Background: Currently, there is a marked increase of young people with sudden onset of tic-like behaviors (TLBs) resembling movements and vocalizations presented on social media videos as "Tourette's syndrome." Objective: To delineate clinical phenomenology of TLBs after social media exposure in comparison with clinical features of Tourette's syndrome. Methods: We compared demographic and clinical variables between 13 patients with TLBs and 13 ageand sex-related patients with Tourette's syndrome. Results: Patients with TLBs had several characteristics allowing to distinguish them from patients with Tourette's syndrome, some of which discriminated perfectly (ie, abrupt symptom onset, lack of spontaneous symptom fluctuations, symptom deterioration in the presence of others) and some nearly perfectly (ie, predominantly complex movements involving trunk/extremities). Also, symptom onset was significantly later. Conclusions: TLBs after social media consumption differ from tics in Tourette's syndrome, strongly suggesting that these phenomena are categorically different conditions.

The recent surge of functional movement disorders: social distress or greater awareness?

“…Onset was abrupt, leading to hospitalisation/emergency visits in up to 36% of cases [22 ▪ ], and the course lacked fluctuations. Symptoms typically deteriorated in the presence of others and improved when patients were alone [21 ▪ ]. Clinical clues from history and examination supported the diagnosis of FTLB, without need for further work-up (Table 2).…”

A Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing Videoconference vs. Face-to-Face Delivery of Behavior Therapy for Youths With Tourette Syndrome in the Time of COVID-19

“…Perceived changes in tic severity during the lockdown were also recently described in school-age patients with tic disorders ( 17 ). In addition, during the global pandemic caused by COVID-19, it was reported a dramatic increase in functional tic-like behaviors in vulnerable children and adolescents after social media exposure ( 18 , 19 ).…”

Mind the Difference Between Primary Tics and Functional Tic‐like Behaviors

“…This benefit is the easy access to reliable information about medical problems and the dissemination of self‐management and other therapeutic advice. As highlighted in the article by Paulus et al, 7 Tourette patient organizations have pushed back against the depictions on social media of people with functional tic‐like behaviors as being typical of Tourette syndrome, and other organizations and societies, such as the International Parkinson's and Movement Disorder Society, could possibly do the same. Movement disorders in those with functional movement disorders are often severe, and the uncertainty and lack of support that often characterizes the relationship between such patients and healthcare professionals may lead them to be more likely to post videos of themselves online, seeking help and validation 13 .…”