Active clinical trials for "Tics"

It is a randomized controlled trial to compare two behavioural treatments, namely CBIT and CoPs. This study would be the first head-to-head randomized trial between two established treatments rather than supportive counseling or wait-list control. Thirty-six adults and 36 children with TS/TD will be recruited into each of the two (CBIT, CoPs) modalities requiring a total recruitment of 72 adults and 72 children over 5 years, which permits, even for a small-medium effect size, a robust power calculation. Motor performance measures will give concurrent validity to changes pre-post in TS/TD motor processes. Recruitment of both males and females will permit sex comparisons. The participants meeting inclusion/exclusion criteria will be assessed at pre-post 1 month and 6 months following treatment on standardized tic scales and global assessment of functioning. Participants will be treated individually on a weekly basis by therapists with an allegiance to each modality and outcome assessed by masked evaluation. The treatments are manualized and will last 10 weeks with 4 weeks of home practice at post-treatment with 6-month follow-up assessment on all outcome measures, plus motor performance measures post-treatment. All treatment sessions will be audio-recorded and assessed with implementation of treatment integrity procedures scales. The hypotheses are that: (1) the CoPs group will show superiority in clinically significant improvement on standard tic scale score, global functioning and quality of life than the CBIT group; and (2) changes in recognized parameters on selected motor tests scored according to published norms will change towards normalization post CoPs but not post CBIT. The outcome data from the two treatments will be analyzed by a mixed linear model adaptation of repeated measures MANOVA and daily diary measures will allow for an additive time series design over the 10 weeks treatment session. This design will allow computation of the size of treatment effects at different stages of therapy. The study results will impact on the treatment of choice and access to treatment for tic disorders and on the conceptualization of tic disorders.

This project investigates the use of 4 weeks of 24 mg/day ondansetron as compared to placebo on symptoms and brain functioning in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and tic disorders (TD). Patients will be randomized to receive ondansetron or placebo for 4 weeks, with MRI scans and symptom assessments occurring at baseline (before any drug) and at the end of the 4 weeks. Patients will also be asked to come into the lab approximately 2 weeks into the trial for symptom assessments. The investigators hypothesize that after 4 weeks there will be greater reduction from baseline in sensory symptoms and the activation of the insula and sensorimotor cortex compared for ondansetron as compared to placebo.

Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics (CBIT) is an evidence based intervention for tic disorders. A recent scientific review of research priorities completed by the Tourette Syndrome Association recommended widespread dissemination of CBIT as an important next step in services delivery research. Given early evidence that occupational therapists can deliver CBIT effectively, a dissemination strategy using occupational therapists may improve accessibility to this treatment, at lower cost and with decreased stigma. Thus the goal of this study is to develop and test a training and dissemination model with occupational therapists (OTs) using an expert, multi-disciplinary team at Weill Cornell/New York Presbyterian Hospital (WC/NYPH) and University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). The investigators have adapted CBIT, the gold-standard behavioral intervention program for children with tic disorders (Woods et al, 2008a,b), for eventual use in OT programs across the country.

Many researchers suspect that individuals with Tourette Syndrome (TS) may have a poor cognitive ability (i.e., response inhibition; RI) that is essential to inhibit inappropriate response such as vocal or motor tics. The investigators aim to test whether a well-established behavior therapy for TS can be improved by increasing the individual's RI capabilities. To this end, 20 children will be randomly assigned to behavior therapy with computer-based RI training or behavior therapy with placebo computer-based cognitive training. The investigators will test the hypothesis that computer-based RI training can be a useful addition to the well-established behavior therapy to enhance its therapeutic effect.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effective and safety of 5LGr in pediatric patients with tic disorders.

A subgroup of patients with childhood-onset obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and/or tic disorders has been identified who share a common clinical course characterized by dramatic onset and symptom exacerbations following group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal (GABHS) infections. This subgroup is designated by the acronym PANDAS (Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal infections). There are five clinical characteristics that define the PANDAS subgroup: presence of OCD and/or tic disorder; prepubertal symptom onset; sudden onset or abrupt exacerbations (relapsing-remitting course); association with neurological abnormalities (presence of adventitious movements or motoric hyperactivity during exacerbations); and temporal association between symptom exacerbations and GABHS infections. In this subgroup, periodic exacerbations appear to be triggered by GABHS infections in a manner similar to that of Sydenham's chorea, the neurological variant of rheumatic fever. Rheumatic fever is a disorder with a presumed post-streptococcal autoimmune etiology. The streptococcal pathogenesis of rheumatic fever is supported by studies that have demonstrated the effectiveness of penicillin prophylaxis in preventing recurrences of this illness. A trial of penicillin prophylaxis in the PANDAS subgroup demonstrated that penicillin was not superior to placebo as prophylaxis against GABHS infections in these children, but this outcome was felt to be secondary to non-compliance with treatment, and there was no decrease in the number of neuropsychiatric symptom exacerbations in this group. In a study comparing azithromycin and penicillin, both drugs were completely effective in preventing streptococcal infections - there were no documented titer elevations during the year-long study period for children taking either penicillin or azithromycin. Comparable reductions in the severity of tics and obsessive-compulsive symptoms were also observed. Thus, penicillin was not performing as an "active placebo" as originally postulated, but rather provided effective prophylaxis against Group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal. Both azithromycin and penicillin appear to be effective in eliminating GABHS infections, and reducing neuropsychiatric symptom severity; thus, between-group differences are negligible. Since increasing the "n" to demonstrate superiority of one prophylactic agent over another would be impractical, we have amended the study design to address two issues: To determine if antibiotics prophylaxis against GABHS infections is superior to placebo in prolonging periods of remission among children in the PANDAS subgroup. To determine if antibiotics prophylaxis against GABHS infections is superior to placebo in improving overall symptom severity for obsessive-compulsive symptoms and tics among children in the PANDAS subgroup. Because penicillin has a narrower therapeutic index and is less expensive than azithromycin, it is the preferable prophylactic agent. Further, penicillin (250 mg orally twice a day) has a long history of providing safe and effective prophylaxis for rheumatic fever and is the first line oral therapy recommended by the American Heart Association. Thus, penicillin has been chosen as the prophylactic antibiotic in the present study. Blister packs are used to increase compliance and to allow for easier documentation of missed doses.

The purpose of this study is to assess the feasibility of a trial on an oral orthotic for reducing tic severity in children ages 7-25 years with Tourette syndrome (TS) or Chronic Tic Disorder (CTD).

The purpose of this research is to examine the preliminary efficacy, feasibility, and acceptability of Voice over Internet Protocol delivered behavior therapy for Tourette Syndrome through in a randomized waitlist-controlled trial.

Gilles da la Tourette syndrome (TS)* is a common chronic neuropsychiatric disorder characterized by motor and vocal tics. In most adult patients, quality of life is significantly impaired. TS, therefore, is a cost-intensive disease (in Germany: mean total costs=€3404/year). Despite significant adverse effects, dopamine receptor antagonists were recommended as first choice treatment for many years. Although efficacy could be demonstrated only recently, today, behavioral therapy with face-to-face Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics (CBIT) (including psychoeducation, habit reversal training, function-based assessment and intervention, and relaxation training) is recommended as first line treatment for tics. In Germany, however, dissemination of CBIT is restricted due to a considerable lack of well-trained therapists. The aim of this study is to overcome this deficiency by creating a new and sophisticated internet-delivered CBIT (iCBIT) program. In addition, internet-delivered CBIT will shorten waiting time, will reach additional groups of patients and will be - once developed and established - highly cost-effective (about € 100 vs. € 1450 for face-to-face CBIT). Investigators want to perform a multicenter, randomized, controlled, observer-blind trial including 160 adult patients in order to demonstrate that 8 sessions (10 weeks) of iCBIT are superior to internet-delivered psychoeducation/relaxation in adult patients with TS. Both immediate (1 week after end of treatment) and long-term effects (after 3 and 6 months) will be evaluated.

The purpose of this trial is to demonstrate the efficacy and safety of aripiprazole in children and adolescents aged 6~18 years with chronic tic disorders or Tourette's disorder