Psychotherapeutic study of tics in childhood--on relationship between family dynamics and onset.

Abstract

Among the tic children who received psychotherapy, 29 cases, which were followed up for more than five years (mean, 8 years) since the onset was available, were selected. Tics were classified as follows based on the process of psychotherapy; monosymptomatic process group 9, neurotic process group 17, distortion of personality development process group 3. The neurotic process group indicated the best prognosis. Next was the monosymptomatic process group. The distortion of personality development process group presented the least favorable prognosis. From the result of psychotherapy, the following methods appeared to be effective, for each of the groups above. "Activity therapy" for the monosymptomatic process group; "intensive therapy" for the neurotic process group: "milieu therapy" for the distortion of personality development group.