A Computer Vision System to Help Patients with Tourette Syndrome Manage Tics
SCH: Computer Vision Algorithms to Detect Tics In Patients with Tourette Syndrome
This project is creating a smart digital tool to help people with Tourette Syndrome practice managing their tics at home.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-10930961 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Tourette Syndrome affects many children and causes significant challenges, and while behavior therapy is recommended, over half of patients do not fully respond and often rely on medications with unwanted side effects. A key challenge in behavior therapy is the need for a human partner to help with practice at home, which can be difficult to access and ensure accuracy. Our team is developing a 'digital practice partner' using computer vision to accurately identify and classify tics during daily activities. This innovative tool aims to make behavior therapy practice more accessible and effective, helping patients achieve better long-term outcomes.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This research is designed for individuals with Tourette Syndrome who are seeking more effective ways to practice behavior therapy skills.
Not a fit: Patients who are not interested in or unable to engage with technology-assisted behavior therapy may not directly benefit from this specific tool.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this digital tool could make effective behavior therapy more accessible and help many more patients with Tourette Syndrome manage their tics without relying on medications.
How similar studies have performed: While behavior therapy itself is a proven treatment, this approach of using computer vision as a digital practice partner for tic detection is a novel application.
Where this research is happening
Philadelphia, United States
- University of Pennsylvania — Philadelphia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Vidal, Rene — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Vidal, Rene
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.