Efficacy of Psychotherapy Treatment of Children With Tics

University of Cologne

Status: Unknown

Conditions: Tic-Disorder

Treatments: Behavioral: Habit Reversal Training; Behavioral: Resources activation

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02144870

THICS-Study

Details and patient eligibility

About

The main purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of a habit reversal based treatment programme compared to an alternative treatment which aims at the activation of resources in children and adolescents aged 8 to 18 years with tic disorders.

Full description

The main purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of a habit reversal based treatment programme (THICS, Woitecki & Döpfner, 2014) compared to an intervention aimed at the activation of resources (STARK, Perri et al., 2014) for children and adolescents with tic disorders. This habit reversal treatment programme was developed at the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy at the University of Cologne and has already been evaluated in a pilot-study (Woitecki & Döpfner, 2011, 2012). The activation of resources treatment programme was also developed at this Department and is currently evaluated in different studies. Effects are expected in both interventions, but a larger effect is expected in the THICS treatment

Enrollment: 100 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 8 to 18 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• 8-18 years
• Diagnosis of chronic motor or vocal Tic (F95.1) or Tourette-Syndrome (F95.2)
• YGTSS total score F95.2>13, F95.1>9
• Tics are the main problems
• Intelligence IQ>80
• If medication, then has been stable for at least one months in medicated patients
• No change in medication treatment is planned
• Ability to participate in weekly outpatient treatment
• Acceptance of randomization

Exclusion criteria

Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder or Psychosis Parallel continuous psychotherapy of tics or comorbid -

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Triple Blind

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100 participants in 2 patient groups

Habit Reversal Training

Active Comparator group

Description:

At first patients get informed about Tics in general. Then the individual Tics are specified and the tic-reaction is looked at further. The Tic-Symptoms are observed and the premonitory urge is specified. For all individual tics a specific reversal movement is developed. Relaxation methods are introduced.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Habit Reversal Training

Resources activation

Active Comparator group

Description:

At first patients get informed about Tics in general. Through different exercises existing resources and skills are activated and strengthened. Feeling of self-esteem and self-respect are strengthened. Also the emotional awareness is strengthened. Relaxation methods are also introduced.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Resources activation