Effectiveness of a modified comprehensive behavioral intervention for tics for children and adolescents with tourette's syndrome: A randomized controlled trial

Abstract Aim To evaluate the effectiveness of a modified four‐session Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics programme for decreasing tics in children and adolescents with Tourette's syndrome. Background Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics programme has been shown to decrease tic severity. However, the lack of behaviour therapists in countries, such as in Taiwan, may preclude application of the standard eight‐session, 10‐week programme. Design Randomized controlled study. Methods Participants aged 6–18 years diagnosed with Tourette's syndrome or chronic tic disorder were recruited from February 2015 through September 2016. Participants in the control and intervention groups ( N = 23 each) received the routine care (daily pyridoxine [50 mg] and psychoeducation). The intervention group received additional four behavioural intervention sessions over a 3‐month period that included psychoeducation, habit reversal training, relaxation training, and education on tic relapse prevention. The outcome measures, Yale Global Tic Severity Scale scores, were assessed at before and after the completion of programme for both groups and again at 3 months follow‐up for the intervention group. The effect of the intervention on severity scores was assessed using a generalized estimated equation. Results Comparison of scores before and after intervention showed that the intervention significantly decreased the severity of total motor tics ( B = −3.28, p < .01) and total tics ( B = −5.86, p < .01) as compared with control treatment. YGTSS scores for the intervention group were lower at 3‐month follow‐up as compared with before treatment or immediately after treatment completion (total tics, p < .001). Conclusion The modified four‐session Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics programme was more effective than routine care for decreasing tic severity in our cohort of 6‐ to 18‐year olds. This improvement was maintained 3 months after intervention. Impact Healthcare providers, including nurses, in countries currently not adopting Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics programme should be made aware of the positive effects of this modified intervention for Tourette's syndrome.