Study of Behavior Therapy and Symptom Changes in Youth with Tourette Syndrome and Tic Disorders Ages 12 to 17

What this Trial Is About

This research aims to understand how symptoms change over time during behavioral treatment in youth aged 12 to 17 with Persistent Tic Disorders PTDs, including Tourette Syndrome. PTDs affect about 1% of the population, causing significant challenges and increasing suicide risk. The study focuses on tracking tic patterns and factors influencing tic changes to improve individualized treatments, as current therapies work only for about 60% of patients. Participants will receive eight sessions of Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics CBIT based on a published manual. The study has three phases over 16 weeks a 4-week pre-intervention period, an 8-week intervention period with CBIT, and a 4-week post-intervention period. Throughout the study, participants will complete various assessments including electronic momentary assessments EMA four times daily, continuous physiological monitoring via wearable devices, weekly neurocognitive tasks, and video observations of tics. During the study, participants will complete four traditional symptom and treatment response assessments before and between phases. Researchers will collect and analyze multiple types of data to observe tic stability and changes. The main outcome measured is tic symptom change using clinical scales over four months. This comprehensive approach aims to inform better personalized treatments for youth with tic disorders.

Trajectories of Change in Tourette Syndrome