Sleep Disorders and Tic Disorders in Children

Sleep disorders and tic disorders often intersect in paediatric populations, presenting a complex clinical picture that spans behavioural, neurological and developmental domains. Sleep disturbances in children with tic disorders may range from difficulty falling asleep and frequent night‐time awakenings to parasomnias and excessive daytime somnolence. Conversely, disrupted sleep can exacerbate tic severity, increase irritability and impair cognitive function, creating a bidirectional relationship. Comorbid neurodevelopmental conditions—most notably attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder—are common, further complicating assessment and management. Underlying mechanisms point to atypical regulation of neurotransmitters such as dopamine and gamma‐aminobutyric acid, alteration of sleep architecture (including reduced sleep efficiency and altered rapid eye movement sleep) and heightened arousal. Early identification of sleep problems is crucial, since persistent deficits can affect academic performance, emotional regulation and overall quality of life. A multidisciplinary approach that combines behavioural strategies, sleep hygiene education and, where appropriate, pharmacotherapy has emerged as best practice. Recent advances have begun to elucidate objective sleep profiles in chronic tic populations, reinforcing the need for routine sleep assessment in paediatric neurology and sleep medicine clinics worldwide.

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Sleep Disorders and Tic Disorders in Children publication trend

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Technical terms

Chronic tic disorder: Presence of motor or vocal tics for more than 12 months.

Insomnia: Difficulty initiating or maintaining sleep, resulting in functional impairment.

Polysomnography: Overnight recording of physiological parameters to assess sleep stages.

Sleep efficiency: Ratio of total sleep time to time spent in bed, expressed as a percentage.

Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep: Sleep stage characterised by rapid eye movements and vivid dreaming.

References

1. Insomnia in Tourette Syndrome and Chronic Tic Disorder. Movement Disorders (2021).
2. Overlapping sleep disturbances in persistent tic disorders and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis of polysomnographic findings. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews (2021).
3. Sleep disturbances and sleep patterns in children with tic disorder: A case-control study. Frontiers in Pediatrics (2022).