Internet-based Behavior Therapy for Adults With Tourette Syndrome

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

110 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2024-02-02

Study Completion Date

2028-05-31

Brief Summary

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This study protocol outlines a parallel-group, randomized controlled trial (RCT) designed to evaluate the effectiveness of Internet-delivered behavior therapy (BT) based on exposure with response prevention (ERP) for adults with Tourette syndrome (TS) or chronic tic disorder (CTD). The primary aim is to evaluate the effects of Internet-delivered ERP-based BT on tic severity compared to a control condition offering general psychological support at week 11 counting from the treatment start. The primary outcome measure is the Yale Global Tic Severity Scale - Total Tic Severity subscale (YGTSS-TTS). Secondary outcomes include measures of tics-related impairment, work and social adjustment, rates of responders, self-rated tic severity, symptoms of depression, and quality of life. Long-term maintenance of results will be assessed at week 23 and 14 months after the treatment start. Participants will be recruited nationwide. The intervention group will receive 10 weeks of ERP-based therapy delivered through an online platform, with therapist support. The control group will receive psychoeducational content and general psychological support. Adherence to treatment, adverse events, and patient safety will be closely monitored throughout the trial. The study population will be intent-to-treat and the between-group differences at the primary endpoint will be assessed using an analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) with pre-score of the measure as covariate. A health-economic evaluation will assess the cost-effectiveness of the intervention.

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Detailed Description

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Conditions

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Tourette Syndrome Chronic Tic Disorder

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Outcome Assessors

Study Groups

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Behavior therapy with exposure and response prevention

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Exposure with response prevention

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

The central component of the intervention will be ERP. During the treatment, participants will receive information about tics and how to work with ERP. Continuously throughout the treatment patients will work with exposing themselves to situations that trigger their premonitory urges and practice suppressing their tics. They will learn different strategies to provoke their premonitory urges to make suppression of their tics more challenging and gradually increase the time they can suppress the tics. A central tool in the treatment will be the Ticstimer, a worksheet where patients will continuously record their ERP practice, and the time they manage to suppress tics. The patients will be encouraged to work with the Ticstimer daily.

Psychoeducation with general psychological support

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Brief psychoeducation with general psychological support

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Participants who are randomized to the control group will receive access to brief psychoeducational content in the platform in combination with general psychological support from a therapist. No active BT components (BT, Habit Reversal Training, applied relaxation) are provided to the participants in the control group. The therapists will welcome the patients to the treatment, encourage them to engage in the treatment content and reach out to the therapist if they have any questions. Thereafter, the therapists will only reply to the patients' messages without taking any contact initiative themselves (unless there is an indication of severe deterioration or severe depressive symptoms or suicidal ideation requiring medical attention)

Interventions

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Exposure with response prevention

The central component of the intervention will be ERP. During the treatment, participants will receive information about tics and how to work with ERP. Continuously throughout the treatment patients will work with exposing themselves to situations that trigger their premonitory urges and practice suppressing their tics. They will learn different strategies to provoke their premonitory urges to make suppression of their tics more challenging and gradually increase the time they can suppress the tics. A central tool in the treatment will be the Ticstimer, a worksheet where patients will continuously record their ERP practice, and the time they manage to suppress tics. The patients will be encouraged to work with the Ticstimer daily.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Brief psychoeducation with general psychological support

Participants who are randomized to the control group will receive access to brief psychoeducational content in the platform in combination with general psychological support from a therapist. No active BT components (BT, Habit Reversal Training, applied relaxation) are provided to the participants in the control group. The therapists will welcome the patients to the treatment, encourage them to engage in the treatment content and reach out to the therapist if they have any questions. Thereafter, the therapists will only reply to the patients' messages without taking any contact initiative themselves (unless there is an indication of severe deterioration or severe depressive symptoms or suicidal ideation requiring medical attention)

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

≥ 18 years of age.

Primary diagnosis of TS/CTD, according to criteria in Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of mental disorders 5th edition.

Provided digital informed consent.

Have a Total Tic Severity Score (TTS) of \>15, or \>10 for individuals with motor or vocal tics only, in the past week, as measured by the Yale Global Tic Severity Scale (YGTSS).

Being willing and able to follow the study procedures and participate in the 10-week treatment program.

Being fluent in Swedish.

Have regular access to a computer connected to the Internet, sufficient technical skills to use the treatment platform, as well as a mobile phone to receive text messages.

Exclusion Criteria

Ongoing or planned psychological treatment for TS/CTD.

Previous BT for tics of a minimum of 8 sessions with a qualified therapist within 12 months prior to assessment.

Adjustment of medication for tics within the last two months prior to assessment.

Severe psychiatric comorbidities such as organic brain disorders, bipolar disorder, ongoing psychosis, anorexia nervosa or substance use disorders that can interfere with the treatment for TS/CTD.

Acute psychiatric problems such as severe depression or suicidal risk needing immediate psychiatric care.

Severe tics causing immediate risk to the participants themselves or to others and requiring urgent medical attention.

Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No