Group Therapy Versus Individual Therapy for Tourette Syndrome and Chronic Tic Disorder
Condition: Chronic Tic Disorder
MeSH terms: Tourette Syndrome; Tics; Tic Disorders
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      Chronic tic disorder (CTD) may have a huge impact on life quality. Habit Reversal Training
      (HRT) and Exposure Response Prevention (ERP) are effective therapeutic modalities. This study
      examined the effect of a combined treatment using both HRT and ERP in children and
      adolescents with CTD. The treatment outcome was examined as an individual treatment compared
      to a group setting. There was no control group. The study examined both acute outcome and
      outcome at one year of follow-up. Predictive factors for treatment outcome were evaluated.
    

Detailed description: 
      Chronic tic disorder (CTD) may have a huge impact on life quality. Habit Reversal Training
      (HRT) and Exposure Response Prevention (ERP) are known to be effective therapeutic
      modalities. Little is known about the effect of group therapy, the effect of combining HRT
      and ERP training, and of the long-term effect of treatment. This study therefore wanted to
      examine the effect of a combined treatment using both HRT and ERP in children and adolescents
      with CTD. The participants were randomized to treatment either in groups or in an individual
      setting. The parents were included in the training programme. The participants were asked to
      fulfill questionnaires concerning anxiety, mood, life quality, their thoughts about tics and
      the experienced premonitory urge. Furthermore, they were interviewed with the semistructured
      interview Yale Global Tic Severity Scale (YGTSS).

      Data was obtained from patient files as to examine possible predictors of both acute and
      long-term treatment effects. The evaluators were a specialized psychologist and a child and
      adolescent psychiatrist with several years of experience in diagnosing, evaluating and
      treating tic disorders. A random sample of 10% were audiotaped and evaluated by another rater
      with extensive experience and expertise in the use of the YGTSS. The evaluator was not
      blinded to the treatment allocation, yet not involved in the treatment of the patient, and
      blinded to any previous evaluations
    

Intervention name(s): tics training including habit reversal training and exposure response prevention
Intervention type(s): Behavioral
Intervention description(s): In an open randomized controlled study, youth were randomized to either individualized, or group treatment. Both therapies included nine sessions, and the parents were offered one group-session.
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Intervention model description: In an open randomized controlled study, youth were randomized to either individualized, or group treatment. Both therapies included nine sessions, and the parents were offered one group-session. Treatment effect was evaluated after 8 and 9 months, and after one year of follow-up
Masking: Single (Outcomes Assessor)
Primary purpose: Treatment
Keywords: Habit reversal training; Exposure response prevention; Children and adolescents