Abstract:

Objective To investigate the sleep quality of children with tic disorders and their association with the types of tic disorders. Methods A total of 86 children with tic disorders admitted to the First Hospital of Quanzhou City from January to December 2024 were selected as the observation group, and 70 healthy children who underwent physical examinations at the same hospital during the same period were recruited as the control group. Demographic characteristics and clinical data of the two groups of children were collected, and sleep assessment was conducted using the children's sleep habits questionnaire(CSHQ). The observation group was evaluated using the Yale global tic severity scale(YGTSS). Results The CSHQ total score in the tic disorders group was 48.32±7.64, which was significantly higher than that of the control group (42.17±5.92， P<0.001). Based on YGTSS scores, the tic disorders group was further categorized into mild, moderate, and severe subgroups, with CSHQ total scores being 44.86±6.32,50.37±7.15, and 56.75±8.24, respectively. Significant differences were observed among these 3 subgroups(P<0.001). CSHQ total score was the highest in chronic tic disorders group, followed by Tourette syndrome group, and the score was the lowest in temporary tic disorders group. There were statistical differences among the 3 groups(P<0.001). Conclusion Children with tic disorders have significantly more sleep issues compared to healthy controls. Furthermore, sleep issues vary across different types of tic disorders, with greater severity associated with poorer sleep quality. Clinical practitioners should pay attention to the assessment of sleep issues in children with tic disorders.

Key words: Tic disorder, Sleep issues, Children's sleep habits questionnaire, YGTSS score, Child