Brain MRI Study in Children Under 18 With Tourette Syndrome or Chronic Tic Disorders Comparing Different Subtypes and Healthy Controls

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are investigating brain imaging differences in children with subtypes of tics-related disorders, including Tourette syndrome and chronic tic disorders. This observational study aims to understand how brain activity and structure vary between children diagnosed with these conditions and healthy children. The study is sponsored by National Taiwan University Hospital and focuses on participants under 18 years old. All participants will undergo brain magnetic resonance imaging MRI evaluations, including resting-state functional MRI and diffusion spectrum imaging, to examine brain function and connectivity. The study includes two groups children diagnosed with Tourette syndrome or chronic tic disorders without other neuropsychiatric conditions, and healthy children without neuropsychiatric disorders. Both groups will receive clinical assessments of tic severity if applicable. Participants will be followed for at least two years after enrollment, during which researchers will compare brain imaging findings between the Tourette group and healthy controls. The main outcome is the difference observed in these imaging results after two years. The study involves no treatment interventions, focusing instead on diagnostic imaging and clinical evaluations to better understand tics-related brain differences in children.

The Findings of Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Subtypes of Tics-related Disorders