Understanding how kids respond to a behavioral intervention for tics

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This study investigates the effectiveness of Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics (CBIT) in children aged 10-17 with chronic motor and/or vocal tics. Participants will undergo an 8-session manualized CBIT program, which focuses on teaching tic management skills through competing response training. The study aims to identify bio-behavioral predictors of response to the intervention by assessing neural, behavioral, psychosocial, and global functioning over time. Video recordings of the sessions will be analyzed to measure the CBIT process and its impact on tic severity.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

* Age 10-17 years at time of enrollment.
* Current chronic motor and/or vocal tics, defined as tics for at least 1 year without a tic-free period of more than 3 consecutive months. Tics must not be due to a medical condition or the direct physiological effects of a substance.
* At least moderate tic severity, defined as a Yale Global Tic Severity Scale total score ≥14 (≥9 for those with motor or vocal tics only).
* Full scale IQ greater than 70.
* Child participant required to have English fluency to ensure comprehension of study measures and instructions.
* To increase external validity of findings, we will include participants taking psychotropic medications that have been stable for 4 weeks and expect to remain stable for the study period. Individuals receiving non-tic related psychotherapy involving procedures that overlap with CBIT can be eligible to participate if they refrain from receiving treatment once enrolled through the post-treatment assessment. All concurrent treatments will be monitored.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Inability to undergo MRI (e.g., metal in body, claustrophobia, orthodontia) and/or EEG.
* Active suicidality Previous diagnosis of psychosis, cognitive disability, or structural brain disease that in the investigator opinion would impede participation.
* History of seizure disorder
* Active substance abuse or dependence.
* Presence of another psychiatric or medical condition requiring immediate treatment and/or for which delay of treatment to focus on tics would be clinically inappropriate. Participants will not be excluded for comorbidities that commonly occur with TS (e.g., ADHD, OCD, anxiety) provided that this criterion is met, as only 10-15% of patients with TS have no comorbidities.
* Concurrent psychotherapy focused on tics and/or involving procedures that overlap with CBIT (e.g., habit reversal therapy, exposure therapy targeting repetitive behaviors).
* Psychotropic medication changes in the past 4 weeks and/or plans to change medication during the study period through post-treatment assessment.
* ≥ 4 previous sessions of CBIT.

Where it's running

• University of California
  San Diego, California, United States Recruiting
• University of Minnesota
  Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States Recruiting

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Christine Conelea, PhD, LP — University of Minnesota
• Study coordinator: Sonya Wang, MD
• Email: ticlab@umn.edu
• Phone: 612-301-1454

Similar studies

Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.

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• Study of brain activity in patients with Tourette Syndrome

  This study is testing how brain activity changes in adults with severe Tourette Syndrome who are getting deep brain stimulation to better understand their tics.

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• Personalized deep brain stimulation for Tourette syndrome

  This study is testing if personalized deep brain stimulation can help people with Tourette syndrome reduce their tics and improve related issues like anxiety and attention problems.

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• Cognitive-psychophysiological therapy, with or without biofeedback, for tics in young people with Tourette's

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• Personalized neurostimulation for Tourette's Syndrome

  This study is testing a personalized brain stimulation treatment for adults with Tourette's Syndrome who haven't found relief from other therapies to see if it can help reduce their severe tics.

  Recruiting Xuanwu Hospital, Beijing · Beijing · NCT06785532

How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.