Nail Biting – Tourettes/Anxiety/Stimulants?
Question:
There has been quite a bit of recent dicussion on nail-biting behaviors. I have read somewhere that nail biting may be associated with tics or tourettes. I imagine that there is also some correlation between nail-biting and anxiety. Furthermore, stimulants may increase anxiety and/or tics in some children. Does anyone know whether nail-biting is a sign of a tic disorder? If so, is it helped by medications commonly used for the treatment of Tourettes? As you all know, there’s a good deal of comorbidity between ADD/Tourettes/Anxiety. It would be interesting to see whether we can identify any patterns. I’m ADD (H-) and have been a nail-biter since before the age of 5. I haven’t noticed any marked changes in my nail-biting due to stimulant meds. -yoav
Response:
Does anyone know whether nail-biting is a sign of a tic disorder? If so, is it helped by medications commonly used for the treatment of Tourettes? As you all know, there’s a good deal of comorbidity between ADD/Tourettes/Anxiety. It would be interesting to see whether we can identify any patterns.
Well, for the first survey entry: I’m ADD and a nail biter. And both of my grandsons have Tourettes. Just started on Ritalin but haven’t noticed that it’s increased my nailbiting (though I don’t know how it could — nails are already bitten back to the knuckles.) In fact, it seems to me that the Ritalin has lessened the nail biting — I’m less tense. Kathy Sargenti
