Which disorder is characterized by eye blinking, facial movements, and throat clearing and typically resolves within about a year?

Which disorder is characterized by eye blinking, facial movements, and throat clearing and typically resolves within about a year?

• A. Tourette's Disorder
• B. Chronic Motor or Vocal Tic Disorder
• C. Transient Tic Disorder
• D. Encopresis

Answer: (C)

Tic disorders are grouped by the kinds of tics (motor vs. vocal) and how long they last. Tics are sudden, rapid, repetitive, nonrhythmic movements or sounds. If someone has both a motor tic (like eye blinking or facial movements) and a vocal tic (such as throat clearing) and these tics go away within about a year, this fits a transient or provisional tic disorder. The key is the short duration—tics present for less than 12 months and then resolving. This differs from Tourette’s disorder, which requires multiple motor tics and at least one vocal tic persisting for more than a year (and starting before age 18). It also differs from a chronic motor or vocal tic disorder, where tics of only one type (either motor or vocal) persist for more than a year. Encopresis is unrelated to tic disorders, so it doesn’t fit.

Tic disorders are grouped by the kinds of tics (motor vs. vocal) and how long they last. Tics are sudden, rapid, repetitive, nonrhythmic movements or sounds. If someone has both a motor tic (like eye blinking or facial movements) and a vocal tic (such as throat clearing) and these tics go away within about a year, this fits a transient or provisional tic disorder. The key is the short duration—tics present for less than 12 months and then resolving.

This differs from Tourette’s disorder, which requires multiple motor tics and at least one vocal tic persisting for more than a year (and starting before age 18). It also differs from a chronic motor or vocal tic disorder, where tics of only one type (either motor or vocal) persist for more than a year. Encopresis is unrelated to tic disorders, so it doesn’t fit.