Persistent (Chronic) Motor or Vocal Tic Disorder, Tourette's Disorder
Conditions
Keywords
Tic Disorder, Tourette, Motor tic, Vocal tic, Habit reversal training, CBIT, TicHelper, Behavior Therapy
Brief summary
Tic Disorders (including Tourette Disorder) are relatively common in school-age children and for some children can lead to significant psychosocial and physical impairment and diminished quality of life. Non-pharmacological treatments have been shown to be effective for reducing tics in some children. These treatment options are desired by parents, but are not widely available. The investigators recently developed an online, computerized, self-administered version of CBIT called TicHelper.com. The current study will test the efficacy of TicHelper.com in a randomized clinical trial.
Detailed description
Effective non-pharmacological treatment options such as comprehensive behavioral intervention for tics (CBIT) have been shown to be effective for reducing tics in some children with chronic tic disorders, including Tourette's disorder. Although effective, many parents and children do not have access to a provider trained in these therapies and practical barriers such as travel and high costs for ongoing therapy limit treatment dissemination and utilization.The investigators recently developed an online, computerized, self-administered version of CBIT called TicHelper.com. This program is an 8-week online program designed to teach children and families empirically-supported tic management skills. The current study will test the efficacy of TicHelper.com in a randomized clinical trial in which 64 children with Tourette's Disorder or a persistent (chronic) tic disorder will be randomly assigned to 8-weeks of TicHelper.com (N=32) or an 8-week internet resource control condition (N=32). Tic symptoms will be assessed by a condition-blind independent evaluator at baseline, post-treatment, and 1-month follow-up. Information regarding patient acceptability of the program will also be collected. This project will test whether TicHelper.com is an efficacious and acceptable way to teach tic-management skills for children with tics.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALTicHelper
TicHelper.com is an 8-week online program designed to teach tic management skills. Content and activities included in TicHelper.com are based on existing empirically-supported treatments including Habit Reversal Training (HRT) and Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics (CBIT). TicHelper.com is designed to teach tic management skills including psychoeducation, relaxation training, awareness training, competing response training, and social support. It is also designed to teach patients/parents to recognize and reduce tic-exacerbating reactions and activities.
OTHERInternet Based Resources
The Internet-Based Resources (IBR) condition is designed to provide patients/parents with access to a wide range of educational materials. These materials contain up-to-date information regarding what is known about tic disorders and their management. Materials covering medical, educational, and behavioral/psychological topics are provided.
Sponsors
Marquette University
University of Utah
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
8 Years to 18 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
1. Child and parent are English speaking. 2. Child meets diagnostic criteria for Tourette's disorder or persistent (chronic) motor or vocal tic disorder according to the criteria of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders - 5th Edition. 3. Child scores \>70 on a brief intelligence test 4. Child currently engages in at least one motor and/or vocal tic multiple times per day 5. Clinician rated tic severity score of \> 3 (mildly ill or worse) 6. Child is unmedicated for tics or associated conditions or has been on stable psychotropic medication for at least 6 weeks with no changes or planned changes in dosage. 7. Family has daily access to a personal computer with internet access and software meeting TicHelper minimum system requirements.
Exclusion criteria
1. A Yale-Global Tic Severity Scale (YGTSS) score \> 30 2. Child scores \< 70 on intelligence test 3. Child meets diagnostic criteria for substance abuse or dependence or conduct disorder (within past 3 months) according to the criteria of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders - 5th Edition. 4. Current or past non-drug treatment for tics that consisted of 4 or more sessions of habit reversal training or CBIT. 5. Child has lifetime diagnosis of mania or psychotic disorder 6. Child has any serious psychiatric or neurological condition not currently being managed, managed ineffectively, or requiring more immediate treatment other than that provided by the study.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in the Total Tic Severity Score on the Yale Global Tic Severity Scale (YGTSS) | Baseline, Week 8 (post-treatment), Week 12 (1-month follow-up) | Clinician interview to assess overall severity of tics |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in overall tic severity on the Clinician Global Impressions-Severity Scale | Baseline, Week 8 (post-treatment), Week 12 (1-month follow-up) | Measures clinician's impression of overall severity |
| Clinician Global Impressions-Improvement Scale | Week 8 (post-treatment) | Measures clinician's impression of improvement since starting treatment |
| Clinician Global Impressions- Improvement Scale | Week 12 (1-month follow-up) | Measures clinician's impression of improvement since starting treatment |
Countries
United States
Outcome results
None listed