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Neuropediatrics 2023; 54(02): 089-098
DOI: 10.1055/a-1993-3783
Original Article

Exposure and Response Prevention: Evaluation of Tic Severity Over Time for Children and Adolescents with Tourette Syndrome and Chronic Tic Disorders

Camilla Birgitte Soerensen 
1   Danish Tourette Clinic at Herlev University Hospital, Department for Children and Adolescents, Denmark
,
Theis Lange
2   Section of Biostatistics, Department of Public Health, Copenhagen University, Denmark
,
Sidsel Normann Jensen
2   Section of Biostatistics, Department of Public Health, Copenhagen University, Denmark
,
Judy Grejsen
1   Danish Tourette Clinic at Herlev University Hospital, Department for Children and Adolescents, Denmark
,
Lone Aaslet
1   Danish Tourette Clinic at Herlev University Hospital, Department for Children and Adolescents, Denmark
,
Liselotte Skov
1   Danish Tourette Clinic at Herlev University Hospital, Department for Children and Adolescents, Denmark
,
Nanette Mol Debes 
1   Danish Tourette Clinic at Herlev University Hospital, Department for Children and Adolescents, Denmark
› Author Affiliations Funding None.
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Abstract

Tourette syndrome and chronic tic disorders are characterized by the presence of tics. Different behavioral therapies have shown to be efficacious for treating tics in children and adolescents, but Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is a less researched method. However, ERP is a method often used in the clinical setting. Therefore, the present study evaluated the severity of tics over time from beginning of ERP to follow-up approximately 1 year after last training session.

In total, 116 patients treated with ERP face to face or ERP via web-based videoconferencing were included. The primary outcome measure was tic severity measured with the Danish version of the Yale Global Tic Severity Scale.

The results showed that tic severity decreased during ERP and lasted in the follow-up period, with a statistically higher decrease in the group with patients who completed ERP as planned and the group that stopped earlier than planned because of reduction in tics, compared with those who dropped out due to lack of motivation (p < 0.001).

The study concludes that ERP seems to have an immediate and a long-term effect on severity of tics, especially in those who complete the program or those who discontinue earlier due to good results.

Keywords

Exposure and Response Prevention - behavioral therapy - habit reversal therapy - Tourette syndrome - tics - chronic tic disorder


Publication History

Received: 17 August 2022

Accepted: 01 December 2022

Accepted Manuscript online:
06 December 2022

Article published online:
25 January 2023

© 2023. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Rüdigerstraße 14, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany

 

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