Understanding the timing and characteristics of tics in children with persistent tic disorders

Clinical Characteristics and Temporal Properties of Individual Tics in Persistent Tic Disorder

This study is trying to see how the timing and nature of tics in children with tic disorders, like Tourette Syndrome, can be affected by treatment and if it helps them manage their tics better.

Quick facts

• Phase: Not applicable
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 12 (estimated)
• Ages: 8 Years to 12 Years
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: University of Utah (Academic / other)
• Locations: 1 site (Salt Lake City, Utah)
• Trial ID: NCT06385535 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This clinical study aims to investigate the timing of tics in children aged 8 to 12 who have been diagnosed with persistent tic disorders, including Tourette Syndrome. Participants will undergo a series of six online visits, which include assessments and Habit Reversal Training (HRT) sessions. The study will explore how the timing of tics relates to their characteristics and control, as well as how treatment may affect tic timing. Data will be collected through video recordings to ensure reliability and fidelity in the assessment process.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are children aged 8 to 12 with a diagnosis of persistent tic disorder who exhibit multiple tics.

Not a fit: Patients who do not have a persistent tic disorder or are outside the age range of 8 to 12 years may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could lead to improved treatment strategies for managing tics in children.

How similar studies have performed: While there have been studies on tic disorders, this specific approach focusing on tic timing and HRT is relatively novel.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

* 8 to 12 years old child who meets the criteria for diagnosis of a persistent tic disorder (e.g., persistent motor/vocal tic disorder or Tourette's disorder; i.e., engages in motor and/or vocal tics that have been present for at least one year)
* The child's tics initially onset before age 10.
* The child currently engages in at least four different motor and/or vocal tics per minute, on average, during a 10-minute observation period.
* The child has a minimum Total Tic Severity Score of 20 on the Yale Global Tic Severity Scale (10 for motor or vocal tics only)
* If the child is on tic-suppressing or psychotropic medication, the dose has been stable for at least 6 weeks with no changes or planned changes in medication status during the study period.
* Parent and child read and speak fluent English.
* The parent is 18+ years of age.
* Access to a private computer with high-speed internet access and private setting.

Exclusion Criteria:

* If, based on the assessment of the study investigators, the child has any serious psychiatric or neurological condition that would interfere with study participation (e.g., unmanaged attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder)
* The child has a self- or parent-reported history of, or is reasonably suspected to have or meet criteria for, functional neurological symptom disorder.
* The child has received more than two sessions of behavioral treatment for tics for which tic suppression was a primary component.
* The child has a Total Tic Severity Score of 40+ on the Yale Global Tic Severity Scale (20+ for motor/vocal tics only).

Where this trial is running

Salt Lake City, Utah

• University of Utah — Salt Lake City, Utah, United States (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: Kirsten Bootes, MS

Conditions Tics; Tic Disorders; Vocal Tic; Motor Tic; Tourette Syndrome; Tourette Syndrome in Children; Tourette Syndrome in Adolescence; Tics/Tremor