Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and Tic Disorder Studies Centre

Tics vs. OCD

Are Tics a Compulsion?

Motor tic disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) are two separate conditions.

However, some researchers believe that habit disorders and Tourette’s syndrome (TS) are part of a spectrum of obsessive-compulsive disorders.

In fact, it is reported that around 30% of people with TS also have a form of OCD.

What is the difference between tic disorders and OCD?
Characteristics of a sensory tic	Characteristics of a compulsion
involuntary and recurring impulsive aims to reduce muscle tension e.g., sniffling	recurring intentional aims to prevent an anxiety-inducing event e.g., washing one’s hands to avoid contamination
Characteristics of a mental tic	Characteristics of an obsession
the content of the thought is quite pleasant aims to reduce general tension e.g., repeatedly humming the chorus of a song	the content of the thought is horrifying generated by anxiety e.g., believing one has developed a serious disease, such as AIDS