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Purpose

Tourette Syndrome (TS) and Persistent Tic Disorder (PTD) are chronic and potentially disabling neurobiological conditions. Although a range of pharmacological and psychosocial treatments exists, a significant number of individuals either do not respond to the current treatments or find them unacceptable. Thus, it is essential that researchers continue to develop and test novel treatment approaches. In this randomized controlled trial the investigators will compare two different online group-based interventions for tics: a mindfulness-based program (Mindfulness-based Intervention for Tics (MBIT), and a psychoeducational and supportive therapy program (Tic Information and Coping Strategies (TICS)). The purpose of this study is to determine which intervention is more helpful for adults with a tic disorder.

Conditions

Eligibility

Eligible Ages
Over 18 Years
Eligible Genders
All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
No

Inclusion Criteria

  1. be 18 years of age or older, 2. possess a primary diagnosis of Tourette Syndrome or Persistent Tic Disorder, 3. be fluent in English 4. reside in the United States, 5. either not be taking any tic suppressant medication or other psychotropic medication or be at a stable dose for 8 weeks prior to the baseline assessment and throughout the study

Exclusion Criteria

  1. be receiving concurrent psychotherapy for the duration of the study 2. have prior extensive experience with mindfulness and/or meditation and 3. have another medical or psychological condition that would prevent the individual from fully engaging in the study or require a higher level of care (e.g., suicidality).

Study Design

Phase
N/A
Study Type
Interventional
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention Model
Parallel Assignment
Intervention Model Description
Randomized Controlled Trial
Primary Purpose
Treatment
Masking
Single (Outcomes Assessor)

Arm Groups

ArmDescriptionAssigned Intervention
Experimental
Mindfulness-based Intervention for Tics 		8-week group-based mindfulness-based program
  • Behavioral: Mindfulness-based Intervention for Tics
    Psychological intervention that focuses on cultivating awareness of urges to tic and developing a different relationship to those urges through meditation and other mindfulness practices.
Active Comparator
Tic Information and Coping Strategies 		8-week group-based educational and supportive therapy program
  • Behavioral: Tic Information and Coping Strategies
    Psychological Intervention that focuses on learning more about tics, practicing a range of strategies for coping with tics (e.g., relaxation, effective communication), and discussing challenges commonly experienced by individuals with tics.

More Details

Status
Completed
Sponsor
Bowdoin College

Study Contact

Notice

Study information shown on this site is derived from ClinicalTrials.gov (a public registry operated by the National Institutes of Health). The listing of studies provided is not certain to be all studies for which you might be eligible. Furthermore, study eligibility requirements can be difficult to understand and may change over time, so it is wise to speak with your medical care provider and individual research study teams when making decisions related to participation.