Group Intervention for Children With Chronic Tics Syndrome or Tourette Syndrome: CBIT vs Psycho-Educational Intervention

Not Applicable

• Conditions: Tourette Syndrome; Motor or Vocal Tic Disorder, Chronic
• Interventions: Behavioral: CBIT group; Behavioral: Psycho-Educational group

• Registration Number: NCT02407951
• Lead Sponsor: Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center

Brief Summary

Tourette Syndrome (TS) is a disorder characterized by motor and vocal tics. The most studied and promising intervention is Habit Reversal Training (HRT) and its variations: Behavioral Comprehensive Intervention for Tics (CBIT). Group intervention for children with TS has not been evaluated. The aim of this study is to assess the efficacy of CBIT group intervention compared with Psycho-Educational-Supportive group in terms of tic severity.

Detailed Description

Tourette Syndrome (TS) is a neuro-developmental disorder characterized by motor and vocal tics, frequently associated with behavioral and functional problems, impacting significantly on children's quality of life . Current evidence supports the contribution of individual behavioral treatment for TS both for reducing tics and improving children's quality of life. The most studied and promising intervention is Habit Reversal Training (HRT) and its variations: Behavioral Comprehensive Intervention for Tics (CBIT). One of the developments of behavioral treatments is group interventions, supported in various types of psychological difficulties, adding benefit of providing peer support. However, group intervention for children with TS has not been empirically evaluated.

The aim of this study is to assess the efficacy of CBIT group intervention. We hypothesize that CBIT group intervention will be more effective than Psycho-Educational-Supportive (PES) group in terms of tic severity, and that both groups will be effective in quality of life measures.

Study Timeline

• Status Verified: 2015-03
• Study First Submitted: 2015-03-31
• Study First Submitted QC: 2015-03-31
• Last Update Submitted: 2015-03-31
• Study Start: 2015-04
• Study First Posted: 2015-04-03
• Last Update Posted: 2015-04-03
• Primary Completion: 2018-04
• Study Completion: 2018-04

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: UNKNOWN
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 96

Inclusion Criteria

• diagnosis of Tourettes syndrome or chronic tic disorder
• age 9-15 years
• native Hebrew speakers

Exclusion Criteria

• intellectual disability (FSIQ < 80)
• current diagnosis of substance abuse/dependence
• life time diagnosis of pervasive developmental disorder, mania or psychosis.
• previous treatment with 4 or more individual sessions of CBIT

Children receiving medications for tics: eligible if the dose is stable for 6 weeks prior to study with no planned changes during study participation.

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
CBIT group	CBIT group	-
Psycho-Educational group	Psycho-Educational group	-

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Yale Global Tic Severity Scale	3 months	semi-structured clinical interview carried out with parent and child. Questions relate to tic severity over the previous week. Separate ratings are recorded for motor and phonic tics in terms of their number, frequency, intensity, complexity, and interference on a 6-point Likert scale. Three composite scores are generated which are total motor tic severity (rated from 0 to 25), total phonic tic severity (rated from 0 to 25) and total tic severity overall (rated from 0 to 50).