{Reference Type}: Journal Article
{Title}: Contextual Triggers and Tic Severity Across Life Periods: A Retrospective Analysis in Adults with Tic Disorders.
{Author}: Barber KE;Ding Q;Espil FM;Woods DW;Specht MW;Bennett SM;Stiede JT;Walkup JT;Ricketts EJ;McGuire JF;Peterson AL;Compton SN;Wilhelm S;Scahill L;Piacentini JC;
{Journal}: Child Psychiatry Hum Dev
{Volume}: 0
{Issue}: 0
{Year}: 2024 Jul 8
{Factor}: 2.776
{DOI}: 10.1007/s10578-024-01733-y
{Abstract}: In tic disorders (TD), tic expression varies across the lifespan and as a function of contextual factors. This study explored connections between tic expression and contextual triggers across life periods in 74 adults (Mage = 23.2) with TDs. The Tic History and Coping Strategies form assessed retrospective self-reports of contextual antecedents, consequences, and tic severity during four life periods (middle school; 9th/10th grade; 11th/12th grade; college/work) and past month. Tics reportedly worsened during and after school in school-aged years and worsened in the evening during college/work years. Stress and anxiety were reported to consistently trigger tics across time. The impact of activities, places, and emotions did not differ across life periods. Attention-based consequences, most prevalent during middle school, were more common than escape- or avoidance-related consequences across all periods. Findings illuminate how contextual factors may influence tics across life periods and underscore the consistent impact of tic-triggering emotions and attention-related consequences.