Investigating Changes in Premonitory Urges During Habit Reversal Training
University of Utah
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
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 re…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 8–17 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
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 receiving treatment, 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-minute direct observation, 4. are between the ages of 8 a…
Interventions
- BehavioralHabit Reversal Training
Participants learn to identify when their tics occur and then learn a competing response to engage in instead of the 3 identified tics and then practice competing responses learned in session during the practice sessions throughout the week.
Location
- University of UtahSalt Lake City, Utah