Behavioural Treatments for Tourette Syndrome: An Evidence-Based Review

Tourette syndrome (TS) is a disorder characterised by multiple motor and vocal tics and is frequently associated with behavioural problems. Tics are known to be affected by internal factors such as inner tension and external factors such as the surrounding environment. A number of behavioural treatm...

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Main Authors: Madeleine Frank, Andrea Eugenio Cavanna
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2013-01-01
Series:Behavioural Neurology
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.3233/BEN-120309
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author Madeleine Frank
Andrea Eugenio Cavanna
author_facet Madeleine Frank
Andrea Eugenio Cavanna
author_sort Madeleine Frank
collection DOAJ
description Tourette syndrome (TS) is a disorder characterised by multiple motor and vocal tics and is frequently associated with behavioural problems. Tics are known to be affected by internal factors such as inner tension and external factors such as the surrounding environment. A number of behavioural treatments have been suggested to treat the symptoms of TS, in addition to pharmacotherapy and surgery for the most severe cases. This review compiled all the studies investigating behavioural therapies for TS, briefly describing each technique and assessing the evidence in order to determine which of these appear to be effective. Different behavioural therapies that were used included habit reversal training (HRT), massed negative practice, supportive psychotherapy, exposure with response prevention, self-monitoring, cognitive-behavioural therapy, relaxation therapy, assertiveness training, contingency management, a tension-reduction technique and biofeedback training. Overall, HRT is the best-studied and most widely-used technique and there is sufficient experimental evidence to suggest that it is an effective treatment. Most of the other treatments, however, require further investigation to evaluate their efficacy. Specifically, evidence suggests that exposure with response prevention and self-monitoring are effective, and more research is needed to determine the therapeutic value of the other treatments. As most of the studies investigating behavioural treatments for TS are small-sample or single-case studies, larger randomised controlled trials are advocated.
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spelling doaj-art-8e5c5f84e7c541448fd5fac63df534ba2025-08-20T03:37:15ZengWileyBehavioural Neurology0953-41801875-85842013-01-0127110511710.3233/BEN-120309Behavioural Treatments for Tourette Syndrome: An Evidence-Based ReviewMadeleine Frank0Andrea Eugenio Cavanna1The Michael Trimble Neuropsychiatry Research Group, Department of Neuropsychiatry, University of Birmingham and BSMHFT, Birmingham, UKThe Michael Trimble Neuropsychiatry Research Group, Department of Neuropsychiatry, University of Birmingham and BSMHFT, Birmingham, UKTourette syndrome (TS) is a disorder characterised by multiple motor and vocal tics and is frequently associated with behavioural problems. Tics are known to be affected by internal factors such as inner tension and external factors such as the surrounding environment. A number of behavioural treatments have been suggested to treat the symptoms of TS, in addition to pharmacotherapy and surgery for the most severe cases. This review compiled all the studies investigating behavioural therapies for TS, briefly describing each technique and assessing the evidence in order to determine which of these appear to be effective. Different behavioural therapies that were used included habit reversal training (HRT), massed negative practice, supportive psychotherapy, exposure with response prevention, self-monitoring, cognitive-behavioural therapy, relaxation therapy, assertiveness training, contingency management, a tension-reduction technique and biofeedback training. Overall, HRT is the best-studied and most widely-used technique and there is sufficient experimental evidence to suggest that it is an effective treatment. Most of the other treatments, however, require further investigation to evaluate their efficacy. Specifically, evidence suggests that exposure with response prevention and self-monitoring are effective, and more research is needed to determine the therapeutic value of the other treatments. As most of the studies investigating behavioural treatments for TS are small-sample or single-case studies, larger randomised controlled trials are advocated.http://dx.doi.org/10.3233/BEN-120309
spellingShingle Madeleine Frank
Andrea Eugenio Cavanna
Behavioural Treatments for Tourette Syndrome: An Evidence-Based Review
Behavioural Neurology
title Behavioural Treatments for Tourette Syndrome: An Evidence-Based Review
title_full Behavioural Treatments for Tourette Syndrome: An Evidence-Based Review
title_fullStr Behavioural Treatments for Tourette Syndrome: An Evidence-Based Review
title_full_unstemmed Behavioural Treatments for Tourette Syndrome: An Evidence-Based Review
title_short Behavioural Treatments for Tourette Syndrome: An Evidence-Based Review
title_sort behavioural treatments for tourette syndrome an evidence based review
url http://dx.doi.org/10.3233/BEN-120309
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