DOI: https://doi.org/10.36347/sjmcr.2025.v13i08.034

Pages: 1886-1890

Functional tic-like behaviors (FTLBs) are abrupt-onset motor and vocal manifestations often triggered by psychological trauma, differing from primary tic disorders such as Tourette syndrome by their phenomenology, female predominance, and poor pharmacological response. We report the case of a 15-year-old girl who developed severe tics, including head jerks, blinking, and guttural sounds, shortly after a knife assault to the face. Neurological examination, neuroimaging, and laboratory tests were normal, excluding organic causes. A diagnosis of functional tic disorder in the context of post-traumatic stress disorder was made. Management combined trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, habit reversal training, and short-term pharmacological support, leading to near-complete remission within six months. This case, consistent with rare reports in the literature, underscores the need for early recognition and targeted multidisciplinary treatment.