Development and Open Trial of a Psychosocial Intervention for Young Children With Chronic Tics: The CBIT-JR Study

Shannon M. Bennett*, Matthew Capriotti, Christopher Bauer, Susanna Chang, Alex E. Keller, John Walkup, Douglas Woods, John Piacentini

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

20 Scopus citations

Abstract

The Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tic Disorders (CBIT) has demonstrated efficacy in large randomized controlled trials for children (≥9 yrs), adolescents and adults with Tourette Syndrome and Chronic Tic Disorders. Given the early age of onset for tic disorders, a large portion of affected individuals with chronic tic disorders are less than 9 years of age and appropriate developmental adaptations of behavioral treatment have not yet been tested. The goal of this study was to adapt and evaluate the acceptability and utility of a family-based adaptation of CBIT for children under 9 years of age. Children 5–8 years of age (N = 15) with chronic tics were recruited from three study sites. CBIT was adapted for use with young children and included habit reversal strategies introduced in a developmentally appropriate game format and function-based interventions to reduce family accommodation of and attention to tic symptoms. Children and parents described high level of treatment satisfaction and study retention rate was 100%. Treatment response rate was 54% (CGI-I = 1 or 2) with a significant decrease in the YGTSS total score (Cohen's d = 0.73) that was largely maintained at 3-month and 1-year follow-up assessments. Treatment was associated with reduction of some symptoms of tic-related comorbid syndromes and with changes in parental accommodation and attention to tics. Future research should determine if parental attention to tics and symptom accommodation are important mediators of treatment outcome, or if participating in this intervention at a younger age may prevent the chronic course of tic symptoms.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)659-669
Number of pages11
JournalBehavior Therapy
Volume51
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 2020
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Tourette Syndrome
  • behavior therapy
  • young children

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Clinical Psychology

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