Tic Disorders and Sensorimotor OCD

~ Understanding Tic Disorders

Patients with tic disorders have uncontrollable urges to make sudden, rapid, and repetitive movements and/or sounds. These movements and vocalizations are expelled in response to an intolerable urge — known as a premonitory urge — that often arises from a specific muscle group. Premonitory urges feel like the urge to sneeze, yawn, or scratch an itch: they build in intensity until the tic is performed.

~ Sensorimotor OCD

Sensorimotor OCD involves hyper-awareness of automatic bodily functions — breathing, blinking, swallowing, or heartbeat — that become the focus of obsessive attention. Once noticed, these normally automatic processes feel impossible to ignore, causing significant distress and interfering with concentration and daily life.

~ Treatment Outcome

Tic disorders and Sensorimotor OCD respond well to Habit Reversal Training (HRT), Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics (CBIT), and ERP-based approaches for the sensorimotor OCD component. Treatment focuses on increasing awareness of premonitory urges and developing competing responses, significantly reducing tic frequency and distress.

Dr. Henry Srednicki has specialized expertise in tic disorders and sensorimotor OCD. With practices in Upper Montclair, NJ and New York City, and telehealth across 42+ states via PSYPACT, expert care is available.