TEAL Study

What is this study about?

The purpose of the TEAL study is to examine the role of tic controllability in pre to post-treatment tic severity change and therapeutic change process with Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics (CBIT). This study will examine dynamic change patterns that are associated with treatment response. Mapping out these changes over time will inform the field's understanding of the mechanism of change underlying CBIT in order to improve treatment outcomes.

Who can participate?

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

• Is 12-21 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?

Participants will have to undergo behavioral and clinical assessments prior to starting treatment, right after completing treatment and three post-treatment assessments.

Participants undergoing TEAL treatment can expect to complete 8 weekly in-person CBIT sessions over 14 weeks at the Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain. At each CBIT session, there will be a Tic Suppressing Task that will be completed. Each CBIT visit is expected to take 1 hour. 

Participant participation will take place over 28 weeks (7 months). 

All participants will be compensated for their time.