QUEST Study

Broad Overview

QUEST is a Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics (CBIT) therapy trial for people aged 12-17 years who experience tics.  

Study Goal

The goal of the QUEST Study is to learn more about how tics change before, during, and after Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics (CBIT) therapy. We hope this study will help us better understand how tics change over time and how CBIT works by measuring daily changes in mood, emotions, sleep habits and tic symptoms.

Who Can Participate?

You may be eligible to participate if you or your child:

• Is 12-17 years old

• Has current chronic motor and/or vocal tics for at least 1 year without a tic-free period of more than 3 consecutive months

• Fluent in English

What is Involved in the QUEST Study

Participants in the QUEST Study will complete clinical assessments and survey questions and will receive 8 weekly sessions of CBIT. They will also wear a study-provided smartwatch and answer 4 short surveys per day for about 4.5 months while being in the study. The short surveys ask about questions related to daily mood/emotions, environment, and recent tics. Each survey takes about one minute to complete. 

Participants will complete 8 weekly in-person CBIT sessions over 13 weeks at the Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain. Participants will complete a brief Tic Suppression Task and a Go/NoGo Task at each session. Each CBIT visit is expected to take 1 hour and 15 minutes to 1 hour and 30 minutes. Overall, participation will take place over 18-22 weeks.

All participants will be compensated for their time.