Standard, Complementary, and Future Treatment Options for Tics

Purpose of Review: Tics occur in up to 20% of children and are a defining feature of Tourette syndrome (TS). When treatment is necessary, there are many options available. The purpose of this review is to present an overview of the standard, complementary/alternative medicine (CAM), and emerging treatments of tics and provide examples of the current evidence supporting these therapies. Recent Findings: Behavioral therapy and conventional pharmacotherapy are the mainstays of treatment and have the strongest evidence to support their use. CAM is common, but there are few rigorous randomized, controlled trials evaluating the safety and efficacy of these modalities. Several novel pharmacological and nonpharmacological treatments targeting specific pathways thought to be involved in TS are currently being studied with the hope of expanding future treatment options. Summary: We conclude that there is an ongoing need for new evidence-based approaches for safe and effective treatment of tics.