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Effect of behavior therapy for Tourette's disorder on psychiatric symptoms and functioning in adults

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 August 2019

Joseph F. McGuire ,
Emily J. Ricketts ,
Lawrence Scahill ,
Sabine Wilhelm ,
Douglas W. Woods ,
John Piacentini ,
John T. Walkup  and
Alan L. Peterson
Joseph F. McGuire*
Affiliation:
Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
Emily J. Ricketts
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
Lawrence Scahill
Affiliation:
Marcus Autism Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Sabine Wilhelm
Affiliation:
Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Douglas W. Woods
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
John Piacentini
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
John T. Walkup
Affiliation:
Lurie Children's Hospital, Chicago, Illinois, USA
Alan L. Peterson
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Health Science at Center, San Antonio, Texas, USA Department of Psychology, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA South Texas Veterans Health Care System, San Antonio, Texas, USA
*
Author for correspondence: Joseph F. McGuire, E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

Background

Although behavior therapy reduces tic severity, it is unknown whether it improves co-occurring psychiatric symptoms and functional outcomes for adults with Tourette's disorder (TD). This information is essential for effective treatment planning. This study examined the effects of behavior therapy on psychiatric symptoms and functional outcomes in older adolescents and adults with TD.

Method

A total of 122 individuals with TD or a chronic tic disorder participated in a clinical trial comparing behavior therapy to psychoeducation and supportive therapy. At baseline, posttreatment, and follow-up visits, participants completed assessments of tic severity, co-occurring symptoms (inattention, impulsiveness, hyperactivity, anger, anxiety, depression, obsessions, and compulsions), and psychosocial functioning. We compared changes in tic severity, psychiatric symptoms, and functional outcomes using repeated measure and one-way analysis of variance.

Results

At posttreatment, participants receiving behavior therapy reported greater reductions in obsessions compared to participants in supportive therapy ($\eta _p^2 $ = 0.04, p = 0.04). Across treatments, a positive treatment response on the Clinical Global Impression of Improvement scale was associated with a reduced disruption in family life ($\eta _p^2 $ = 0.05, p = 0.02) and improved functioning in a parental role ($\eta _p^2 $ = 0.37, p = 0.02). Participants who responded positively to eight sessions of behavior therapy had an improvement in tic severity ($\eta _p^2 $ = 0.75, p < 0.001), inattention ($\eta _p^2 $ = 0.48, p < 0.02), and functioning ($\eta _p^2 $ = 0.39–0.42, p < 0.03–0.04) at the 6-month follow-up.

Conclusion

Behavior therapy has a therapeutic benefit for co-occurring obsessive symptoms in the short-term, and reduces tic severity and disability in adults with TD over time. Additional treatments may be necessary to address co-occurring symptoms and improve functional outcomes.

Keywords

Behavior therapycomorbiditycomprehensive behavioral intervention for ticsdisabilityfunctioning.
Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 50 , Issue 12 , September 2020 , pp. 2046 - 2056
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2019

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