The essential feature of Transient Tic Disorder is the presence of single or multiple motor tics and/or vocal tics. The tics occur many times a day.

A tic is a sudden, rapid, recurrent, nonrhythmic, stereotyped motor movement or vocalization. The vocal tics include various words or sounds such as clicks, grunts, yelps, barks, sniffs, snorts, and coughs.

Specific Symptoms of Transient Tic Disorder

• Single or multiple motor and/or vocal tics (i.e., sudden, rapid, recurrent, nonrhythmic, stereotyped motor movements or vocalizations)
• The tics occur many times a day, nearly every day for at least 4 weeks, but for no longer than 12 consecutive months.
• The disturbance causes marked distress or significant impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
• The onset is before age 18 years.
• The disturbance is not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (e.g., stimulants) or a general medical condition (e.g., Huntington's disease or postviral encephalitis).
• Criteria have never been met for Tourette's Disorder or Chronic Motor or Vocal Tic Disorder.

 

 

Criteria summarized from:
American Psychiatric Association. (1994). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, fourth edition. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association.

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Last reviewed: By John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on 16 Oct 2010
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