Functional tics, the pandemic and social media

Functional tics form a part, albeit small proportion, of the wider spectrum functional neurological disorders (FND). In this review, we focus on recent increase in presentations since COVID-19 pandemic. A tic disorder is often characterised by rapid onset complex motor and vocal predominantly adolescent females, distinct from Tourette’s syndrome which typically begins younger boys. Rapid severe merging into other types disorders, marked coprolalia, self-injury school absenteeism, are additional features tics, however, can co-exist. There has been lot social media as an explanation for rise cases, although data suggest that just one many potential factors, with pandemic itself its effect teenage lives being most likely culprit.