Actively Recruiting
Longitudinal Impact of Stressors in Adults With Tourette Syndrome
Led by Vanderbilt University Medical Center · Updated on 2026-05-05
140
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
17 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
Sponsors
V
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Lead Sponsor
U
University of California, Los Angeles
Collaborating Sponsor
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
This research aims to understand how lifetime environmental stress affects adults with Tourette Syndrome (TS), a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by tics and often accompanied by psychiatric conditions such as anxiety, depression, ADHD, and OCD. The study focuses on adults over 18, exploring how stress impacts tic severity, mental health symptoms, and quality of life over two years. Previous research in children suggested stress influences symptoms, but this is the first study to examine these effects in adults with TS. Participants are adults diagnosed with TS or related chronic tic disorders. This is an observational study without drug or device interventions. Over two years, participants will undergo assessments at baseline and follow-up, including clinical rating scales for tic severity, psychiatric interviews, and questionnaires on lifetime stress exposure and positive childhood experiences. The study aims to identify how acute and chronic stressors predict changes in tic severity, depression, and health-related quality of life. During the study, participants will complete validated scales such as the Yale Global Tic Severity Scale, NeuroQOL-Depression, and Gilles de la Tourette Quality of Life Scale. Researchers will analyze how stress and positive experiences impact symptoms and quality of life after two years. Various secondary measures will also be collected, including anxiety, ADHD symptoms, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, social support, sensory processing, and stress responses. The study will provide insights into the long-term effects of stress on adults living with TS.
CONDITIONS
Brief Title
Longitudinal Impact of Stressors in Adults With Tourette Syndrome
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Adults over 18 years old
- Diagnosed with Tourette syndrome, chronic motor tic disorder, or chronic vocal tic disorder according to DSM-V criteria
- Able to provide informed consent
- Proficient in English
You will not qualify if you...
- Having significant medical, neurological, or psychiatric conditions other than Tourette syndrome and its commonly co-occurring psychiatric diagnoses (e.g., uncontrolled epilepsy, chronic heart failure, schizophrenia)
AI-Screening
AI-Powered Screening
Complete this quick 3-step screening to check your eligibility
Your Study Journey
Duration - 2 to 4 weeks
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial.
1 visit (in-person)
Duration - 1 day
Participants complete initial assessments including clinical rating scales for tic severity, psychiatric comorbidities, lifetime environmental stressors, positive childhood experiences, and health-related quality of life.
1 visit (in-person)
Duration - 2 years
Participants are observed over two years to examine the impact of lifetime environmental stressors and positive childhood experiences on tic severity, depression, and quality of life.
Follow-up assessments at 2 years post-baseline
Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Nashville, Tennessee, United States, 37232-5400
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
M
Michelle Eckland, BS
How is the study designed?
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Masking
N/A
Allocation
N/A
Model
N/A
Primary Purpose
N/A
Number of Arms
1
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