Cognitive-psychophysiological Treatment for Tics in Young People With Tourette's Syndrome With or Without Biofeedback

Can the Cognitive-Psychophysiological Treatment of Tics be Optimized Through Biofeedback in Adolescents and Emerging Adults With Tourette Syndrome? - A Randomized Clinical Trial

The goal of this clinical trial is to compare the effectiveness of CoPs therapy with or without the therapeutic component of biofeedback in treating tics in Tourette Syndrome with emerging young adults.

Hypotheses:

1. The CoPs+Biofeedback treatment will improve the severity of tics (YGTSS) and the Clinical Global Impression, surpassing the clinical significance threshold of CoPs treatment alone.
2. We expect that the identified variables (psychosocial, neurocognitive, biological) will predict the improvement of tics.

Researchers will compare if the biofeedback treatment will improve the severity of tics.

• In the pre-test, participants will undergo two interviews, each lasting 3 hours. These interviews will assess (through a battery of tests) the severity of tics as well as the psychosocial, biological, and neurocognitive aspects of functioning. A general assessment of intelligence and executive functions will also be conducted.
• They will next attend 10 to 12 therapy sessions, with or without biofeedback. (The biofeedback component is explained in more detail in the ''Study Design'' section).
• The post-test follow-ups consist of two evaluations: one 3 months after the end of the treatment and the other 6 months after. The evaluation will be done using the same battery of tests as during the pre-test interview.

* The project explanations are in English for everyone's ease of understanding, but our study is conducted in French. *

Inclusion Criteria:

• Have a diagnosis of TS or to experience bothersome tics;
• Be aged 14 to 21 years inclusive at the start of therapy.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Present a sensorimotor impairment;
• Have a diagnosis of intellectual disability (intelligence quotient below 75);
• Alcohol or drug abuse;
• A neurological issue (e.g., hemifacial spasms, Huntington's disease);
• Change medication one month or less before step 1 and up to step 4 (last measurement time) without informing a member of the research team;
• Simultaneously receive another intervention for tics (e.g., psychologist, massage therapist) without informing a research team member.