Habit Reversal Training and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Tourette Syndrome: A Pilot Project

Chronic tic disorders (CTDs), including Tourette Syndrome, affect approximately 1 in 100 individuals, and pediatric onset is the norm. Pharmacotherapy has traditionally been the first line of treatment for CTD. However, given that partial response to pharmacotherapy is typical and that the side effect profile for efficacious medications warrants consideration before initiating treatment, there is a clear need to develop and disseminate psychosocial treatments to enhance outcomes among individuals with CTDs. The current report describes findings from a pilot project designed to: (a) train two sites in behavior therapy involving Habit Reversal Training (HRT) for CTDs; (b) pilot test the HRT protocol in adolescents and young adults with CTDs; (c) develop and refine a combined Habit Reversal Training plus Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (HRT+ACT) protocol for CTDs; and (d) pilot test the combined protocol in adolescents and young adults with CTDs. Results indicated that, on average, both the HRT alone and the HRT+ACT groups experienced substantial, clinically relevant, durable, and comparable reductions in tic symptoms through the 1 month follow-up, as well as improvements in participant and parent-rated global functioning over this same period.