Investigating Changes in Premonitory Urges During Habit Reversal Training for Tics

Last updated: March 17, 2025
Sponsor: University of Utah
Overall Status: Active - Recruiting

Phase

N/A

Condition

Tic Disorders

Tourette's Syndrome

Autism

Treatment

Habit Reversal Training

Clinical Study ID

NCT06825520
00183697
  • Ages 8-17
  • All Genders

Study Summary

The primary aim of this study is to learn more about premonitory urges (PU) when using Habit Reversal Training (HRT) to treat tics.

The main focus of this study is to investigate if and when PU change during tic treatment sessions and between tic treatment sessions.

Participants will:

  • Attend 5 study visits (approximately 1 to 1.5 hours each) for an intake, habit reversal training for 3 separate tics, and a post assessment

  • Attend 5 practice sessions (approximately 30 minutes each) over a week for 3 weeks (total 15 practice sessions)

  • Study visits and practice sessions will take place in person and online via secure videoconference

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion

Inclusion Criteria:

Participants who meet criteria for a DSM-5-TR diagnosis of a TD will be recruited to participate in this study. Participants will be eligible for the study if they

  1. present with at least three motor and/or vocal tics and are interested in receivingtreatment,

  2. report experiencing a PU for each of their target tics with a minimum rating of a 4/8 on a subjective rating (i.e., the Urge Thermometer; Silverman & Albano, 1996)for each tic,

  3. the targeted tics occur, on average, at least once per minute during a 10-minutedirect observation,

  4. are between the ages of 8 and 17

  5. the patient has no planned changes in medication initiation or dosage during theirstudy participation period.

Exclusion

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. the presence of any comorbid conditions that are considered a primary treatmentconcern and/or could interfere with study participation or treatment (i.e.,unmanaged ADHD, OCD, anxiety),

  2. have previously engaged in CBIT or HRT for more than 2 sessions,

  3. a Yale Global Tic Severity Score of 40+ (or 20+ if they present with a primary motoror vocal tic disorder),

  4. suspected (based on clinical presentation) that the tics are better attributed tofunctional neurological symptom disorder per DSM-5-TR criteria (APA, 2022).

Study Design

Total Participants: 6
Treatment Group(s): 1
Primary Treatment: Habit Reversal Training
Phase:
Study Start date:
February 11, 2025
Estimated Completion Date:
May 31, 2026

Study Description

Current research has shown that although tics can be effectively reduced with short-term suppression strategies or habit reversal training (HRT), it remains unclear whether improvement in tic symptoms is accompanied by a reduction in premonitory urges (PUs). Premonitory urges are uncomfortable premonitory sensations that signal a tic is about to occur. Most individuals describe these premonitory sensations as an itch, pressure, energy, or other uncomfortable or "not just right" sensation that is usually localized to the area of the body in which the tic occurs. Furthermore, most individuals report that their PUs increase when tics are suppressed and are reduced or eliminated, albeit temporarily, after the tic is executed. Because the execution of tics reduces aversive PUs, it has been hypothesized that they are strengthened, shaped, and maintained, at least in part, by automatic negative reinforcement. Further investigation into the PU-tic association during treatment is needed. A better understanding of how PUs fluctuate during HRT (both within and between sessions) will potentially provide further insight into its underlying mechanism(s). A better understanding of how PUs fluctuate during HRT (both within and between sessions) will potentially provide further insight into its underlying mechanism(s). Specifically, if tics reduce but PU do not reduce when within and between HRT sessions, such findings would cast doubt on the role of habituation and spur the investigation of alternative hypotheses. The primary aim of this study is to contribute to the current literature on the model of tic maintenance and reduction and the PU-tic association by investigating individual PU severity fluctuations within and between sessions when using HRT to treat tics. Specifically, the study will examine whether subjective ratings of PUs decrease within and between sessions following HRT, as would be expected from the habituation hypothesis.

The primary aim of this study is to contribute to the current literature on the model of tic maintenance and reduction and the PU-tic association by investigating individual PU severity fluctuations within and between sessions when using HRT to treat tics.

Connect with a study center

  • University of Utah

    Salt Lake City, Utah 84112
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

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