307.22 Chronic Motor or Vocal Tic Disorder

Diagnostic Features

The essential feature of Chronic Motor or Vocal Tic Disorder is the presence of either motor tics or vocal tics, but not both (Criterion A). This differs from Tourette's Disorder in which there must be both multiple motor and one or more vocal tics. The other essential features (Criteria B, C, and D) are the same as for Tourette's Disorder. A diagnosis of Chronic Motor or Vocal Tic Disorder cannot be made if the criteria for Tourette's Disorder have ever been met (Criterion E). The other characteristics of Chronic Motor or Vocal Tic Disorder are generally the same as for Tourette's Disorder (see p. 111), except that the severity of the symptoms and the functional impairment are usually much less. It appears that Chronic Motor or Vocal Tic Disorder and Tourette's Disorder may be genetically related because they often occur in the same families.

Differential Diagnosis

Refer to the "Differential Diagnosis" section for Tic Disorders (p. 110).

Diagnostic criteria for 307.22 Chronic Motor or Vocal Tic Disorder

1. Single or multiple motor or vocal tics (i.e., sudden, rapid, recurrent, nonrhythmic, stereotyped motor movements or vocalizations), but not both, have been present at some time during the illness.
2. The tics occur many times a day nearly every day or intermittently throughout a period of more than 1 year, and during this period there was never a tic-free period of more than 3 consecutive months.
3. The onset is before age 18 years.
4. 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).
5. Criteria have never been met for Tourette's Disorder.

Reprinted with permission from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision^TM. Copyright 2000 American Psychiatric Association. All Rights Reserved.