title: Living with tics: reduced impairment and improved quality of life for youth with chronic tic disorders.
abstract: Pharmacological and behavioral interventions have focused on reducing tic severity to alleviate tic-related impairment for youth with chronic tic disorders (CTDs), with no existing intervention focused on the adverse psychosocial consequences of tics. This study examined the preliminary efficacy of a modularized cognitive behavioral intervention ("Living with Tics", LWT) in reducing tic-related impairment and improving quality of life relative to a waitlist control of equal duration. Twenty-four youth (ages 7-17 years) with Tourette Disorder or Chronic Motor Tic Disorder and psychosocial impairment participated. A treatment-blind evaluator conducted all pre- and post-treatment clinician-rated measures. Youth were randomly assigned to receive the LWT intervention (n=12) or a 10-week waitlist (n=12). The LWT intervention consisted of up to 10 weekly sessions targeted at reducing tic-related impairment and developing skills to manage psychosocial consequences of tics. Youth in the LWT condition experienced significantly reduced clinician-rated tic-impairment, and improved child-rated quality of life. Ten youth (83%) in the LWT group were classified as treatment responders compared to four youth in the waitlist condition (33%). Treatment gains were maintained at one-month follow-up. Findings provide preliminary data that the LWT intervention reduces tic-related impairment and improves quality of life for youth with CTDs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA. Electronic address: jfmcguire@mail.usf.edu.
authors.forename: Joseph F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: McGuire
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Elysse
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Arnold
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Jennifer M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Joshua M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Nadeau
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA; Departments of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Adam B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Lewin
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA; Departments of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA; All Children׳s Hospital - Johns Hopkins Medicine, St. Petersburg, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Tanya K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA; Departments of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA; Roger׳s Behavioral Health - Tampa Bay, Tampa, FL, USA; All Children׳s Hospital - Johns Hopkins Medicine, St. Petersburg, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Eric A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Storch
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods; D002648:Child; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education*; D011340:Problem Solving; D011788:Quality of Life; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013981:Tic Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D005879:Tourette Syndrome / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*
keywords: Chronic tic disorders; Cognitive behavior therapy; Functional impairment; Quality of life; Tourette Disorder; Treatment outcome