Sensory phenomena are general feelings, urges or bodily sensations that precede or accompany repetitive behaviors associated with Tourette syndrome

Tourette syndrome

Tourette syndrome is an inherited neuropsychiatric disorder with onset in childhood, characterized by multiple physical tics and at least one vocal tic; these tics characteristically wax and wane...

 and tic disorder

Tic disorder

Tic disorders are defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders based on type and duration of tics...

s. These phenomena are also defined as "generalized or focal uncomfortable feelings or sensations preceding tic

Tic

A tic is a sudden, repetitive, nonrhythmic, stereotyped motor movement or vocalization involving discrete muscle groups. Tics can be invisible to the observer, such as abdominal tensing or toe crunching. Common motor and phonic tics are, respectively, eye blinking and throat clearing...

s that usually are relieved by the movement".

Sensory phenomena resemble urges or sensations associated with akathisia

Akathisia

Akathisia, or acathisia, is a syndrome characterized by unpleasant sensations of inner restlessness that manifests itself with an inability to sit still or remain motionless...

 and restless legs syndrome

Restless legs syndrome

Restless legs syndrome or Willis-Ekbom disease is a neurological disorder characterized by an irresistible urge to move one's body to stop uncomfortable or odd sensations. It most commonly affects the legs, but can affect the arms, torso, and even phantom limbs...

, in which motor movement also relieves the unpleasant sensation. "Individuals with tics may have either a generalized or a localized sensation of tension that is relieved by movement, ie, the tic."

Sensory phenomena include bodily sensations, mental urges, and a sense of inner tension, feelings of incompleteness, and a need for things to be "just right". Bodily sensations include focal or generalized body sensations (usually tactile, muscular-skeletal/visceral, or both); mental sensations include urge only, energy release (mental energy that builds up and needs to be discharged), incompleteness, and just-right perceptions. They may be an important measure for grouping patients along the OCD-Tourette's disorder spectrum. The presence of sensory phenomena differentiates subjects with Tourette syndrome plus obsessive-compulsive disorder

Obsessive-compulsive disorder

Obsessive–compulsive disorder is an anxiety disorder characterized by intrusive thoughts that produce uneasiness, apprehension, fear, or worry, by repetitive behaviors aimed at reducing the associated anxiety, or by a combination of such obsessions and compulsions...

 (OCD) from subjects with OCD alone.

In contrast to the stereotyped movements of other movement disorder

Movement disorder

Movement disorders include:* Akathisia * Akinesia * Associated Movements * Athetosis...

s (e.g.; chorea

Chorea (disease)

Choreia is an abnormal involuntary movement disorder, one of a group of neurological disorders called dyskinesias. The term choreia is derived from the Greek word χορεία , see choreia , as the quick movements of the feet or hands are vaguely comparable to dancing or piano playing.The term...

s, dystonia

Dystonia

Dystonia is a neurological movement disorder, in which sustained muscle contractions cause twisting and repetitive movements or abnormal postures. The disorder may be hereditary or caused by other factors such as birth-related or other physical trauma, infection, poisoning or reaction to...

s, myoclonus

Myoclonus

Myoclonus is brief, involuntary twitching of a muscle or a group of muscles. It describes a medical sign and, generally, is not a diagnosis of a disease. Brief twitches are perfectly normal. The myoclonic twitches are usually caused by sudden muscle contractions; they also can result from brief...

, and dyskinesia

Dyskinesia

Dyskinesia is a movement disorder which consists of effects including diminished voluntary movements and the presence of involuntary movements, similar to tics or choreia. Dyskinesia can be anything from a slight tremor of the hands to uncontrollable movement of, most commonly, the upper body but...

s), the tics of Tourette's are temporarily suppressible and preceded by a premonitory urge. Immediately preceding tic onset, most individuals with Tourette syndrome are aware of an urge, which is similar to the need to sneeze or scratch an itch. Individuals describe the need to tic as the buildup of tension in a particular anatomical location, which they consciously choose to release, as if the subject "had to do it". Examples of the premonitory urge are the feeling of having something in one's throat, or a localized discomfort in the shoulders, leading to the need to clear one's throat or shrug the shoulders. The actual tic may be felt as relieving this tension or sensation, similar to scratching an itch. Another example is blinking to relieve an uncomfortable sensation in the eye. Published descriptions of the tics of Tourette's identify sensory phenomena as the core symptom

Symptom

A symptom is a departure from normal function or feeling which is noticed by a patient, indicating the presence of disease or abnormality...

of Tourette syndrome, even though they are not included in the diagnostic criteria.