PP12.13 – 2362: The influence of motor and vocal tic severity on children's quality of life

Abstract

Objective To assess the influence of motor and vocal tic severity on children's quality of life (QOL). Methods Forty six children were assessed (61% boys, 39% girls), aged 3.5–15.5 years old. Twenty five children (54%) presented with both motor and vocal tics, eighteen children (39%) with only motor tics and 3 children (7%) with Tourette's disorder. The motor and vocal tic severity was assessed with Yale Global Tic Severity Scale (YGTSS), while the quality of children's life was assessed with KIDSCREEN-52 QOL questionnaire. By using linear regression we examined if the factors: age, sex, motor tic severity (of YGTSS), vocal tic severity, total tic severity score, impairment, total Yale Global Tic Severity Scale Score, affect the QOL of children with tics. Results The only dimensions of children's QOL that were affected were autonomy and financial resources. Furthermore, on dimensions: physical well-being, moods and emotions and autonomy the older the child was the worse was his/her QOL. In relation to the kind of tic, the severity of vocal tics correlated significant (p Conclusion There is an evident lack of studies that examine QOL in children with tics. The severity of motor and vocal tics affect negatively children's QOL on multiple dimensions. Children's age is not only a correlative but also a predictive factor: predicting a worse QOL in older children, one could select older children in need for more aggressive psychological intervention.