Cognitive-psychophysiological therapy, with or without biofeedback, for tics in young people with Tourette's
Official title: Can the Cognitive-Psychophysiological Treatment of Tics be Optimized Through Biofeedback in Adolescents and Emerging Adults With Tourette Syndrome? - A Randomized Clinical Trial
Run by Université du Québec a Montréal · NCT06873841 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project tests whether adding biofeedback to cognitive-psychophysiological therapy helps reduce tics in 14–21-year-olds with Tourette's.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 14 Years to 21 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 150 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Université du Québec a Montréal Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Montreal, Quebec) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | April 15, 2025 |
| Main results expected | December 2029 |
| Study ends | December 2029 |
| Registry record updated | July 8, 2025 |
| Trial ID | NCT06873841 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are 14–21-year-olds with Tourette's or bothersome tics who can attend in-person visits at the Montreal site and do not have intellectual disability, significant sensorimotor impairment, active substance abuse, or major neurological disease.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients with IQ below 75, sensorimotor impairments, active alcohol or drug abuse, major neurological disorders, or those who cannot avoid other simultaneous tic treatments or recent medication changes may not benefit or be eligible.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
Participants complete two pre-treatment interviews totaling about six hours that measure tic severity (including the YGTSS), psychosocial, neurocognitive, and biological variables, plus general intelligence and executive function. They then receive 10 to 12 sessions of cognitive-psychophysiological therapy either with or without a biofeedback component. Outcomes include tic severity and Clinical Global Impression scores, measured through the planned follow-up visits. The protocol is delivered in French at a Montreal clinical site, with project explanations available in English.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, adding biofeedback could produce greater tic reduction and improved overall clinical functioning compared with the therapy alone.
How similar studies have gone: Behavioral approaches for tics (e.g., habit reversal/CBIT) have shown benefit, but combining cognitive-psychophysiological therapy with biofeedback is relatively novel and not yet widely proven.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Have a diagnosis of TS or to experience bothersome tics; * Be aged 14 to 21 years inclusive at the start of therapy. Exclusion Criteria: * Present a sensorimotor impairment; * Have a diagnosis of intellectual disability (intelligence quotient below 75); * Alcohol or drug abuse; * A neurological issue (e.g., hemifacial spasms, Huntington's disease); * Change medication one month or less before step 1 and up to step 4 (last measurement time) without informing a member of the research team; * Simultaneously receive another intervention for tics (e.g., psychologist, massage therapist) without informing a research team member.
Where it's running
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Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux du Nord-de-l'Île-de-Montréal, Hôpital Rivières-des-Prairies
Montreal, Quebec, Canada Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Julie Leclerc, Psychology — Université du Québec à Montréal- UQAM
- Study coordinator: Julie Leclerc, Psychology
- Email: leclerc.julie@uqam.ca
- Phone: 1-514-987-3000
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.