title: Habit reversal training and educational group treatments for children with tourette syndrome: A preliminary randomised controlled trial.
abstract: Quality of life of children with Tourette Syndrome (TS) is impacted greatly by its symptoms and their social consequences. Habit Reversal Training (HRT) is effective but has not, until now, been empirically evaluated in groups. This randomised controlled trial evaluated feasibility and preliminary efficacy of eight HRT group sessions compared to eight Education group sessions. Thirty-three children aged 9-13 years with TS or Chronic Tic Disorder took part. Outcomes evaluated were tic severity and quality of life (QoL). Tic severity improvements were found in both groups. Motor tic severity (Yale Global Tic Severity Scale) showed greatest improvements in the HRT group. Both groups showed a strong tendency toward improvements in patient reported QoL. In conclusion, group-based treatments for TS are feasible and exposure to other children with tics did not increase tic expression. HRT led to greater reductions in tic severity than Education. Implications, such as cost-effectiveness of treatment delivery, are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Royal Holloway, University of London, UK.
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yates
authors.affiliation: Research Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, UK.
authors.forename: Katie
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.affiliation: Research Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, UK.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: King
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Royal Holloway, University of London, UK.
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Luzon
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Royal Holloway, University of London, UK.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Evangeli
authors.affiliation: Tourette Syndrome Clinic, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Stark
authors.affiliation: Tourette Syndrome Clinic, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK; Institute of Child Health, University College London, UK.
authors.forename: Fiona
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: McFarlane
authors.affiliation: Tourette Syndrome Clinic, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK; Institute of Child Health, University College London, UK.
authors.forename: Isobel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Heyman
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, İstanbul Arel University, Turkey.
authors.forename: Başak
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: İnce
authors.affiliation: Division of Paediatrics, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Jana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kodric
authors.affiliation: Tourette Syndrome Clinic, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK; Institute of Child Health, University College London, UK. Electronic address: Tara.Murphy@ucl.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Tara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Murphy
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006184:Habits; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group / Q000379:methods*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D005879:Tourette Syndrome / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Children; Education; Group; Habit reversal training; Randomised controlled trial; Tourette syndrome