How can I differentiate between transient tic disorder and Tourette Syndrome in a clinical setting?

Differentiating between transient tic disorder and Tourette syndrome in a clinical setting primarily relies on the duration and types of tics observed ¹.

• Duration of Tics: For a diagnosis of Tourette syndrome, both multiple motor tics and at least one vocal tic must have been present for more than 12 consecutive months ¹. In contrast, transient tic disorder involves tics that have been present for less than 12 consecutive months ¹.
• Types of Tics: Tourette syndrome requires the presence of both multiple motor tics and at least one vocal tic at some point during the illness, though not necessarily at the same time ¹. Transient tic disorder may involve motor tics, vocal tics, or both, but the key differentiator remains the duration ¹.

Tics typically begin in childhood ¹. It is also important to note that Tourette syndrome can be associated with other challenges, such as anger outbursts and aggressive symptoms (Ashurova et al., 2021). Furthermore, neurological conditions, including Tourette syndrome, may co-occur with other neurodevelopmental conditions like autism spectrum disorder (ASD) ¹,².