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NCT07725926

Overview

NCT ID: NCT07725926
Lead Sponsor: University College London HospitalsOTHER
Official Title: Integrating Exposure and Response Prevention and Habit Reversal Techniques to Treat a Tourettic Subtype of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (Tourettic OCD)
Brief Summary: Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and Tic Disorders frequently co-occur, and a subgroup of patients - those with a Tourettic Subtype of OCD (TOCD) - present with concurrent obsessive-compulsive and tic symptoms. Existing psychological interventions typically target one condition or the other, but rarely both together. This study aims to test whether a combined psychological therapy integrating Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) and Habit Reversal (HbRT) is more effective at reducing symptoms than either therapy delivered alone, in adults with TOCD.
Conditions: Obsessive - Compulsive Disorder
Tic Disorder, Chronic Motor or Vocal
Tic Disorders

Status and Timeline

Status: Recruiting
Last Update Posted: Jul 27, 2026Actual
Start Date: Jul 8, 2026Actual
Primary Completion Date: Aug 1, 2027Estimated
Completion Date

Participation Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study: Adult (18-64)Older Adult (65+)
Sexes Eligible for Study: All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers?: No
Eligibility Criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

Age 18 years or older

All genders

Confirmation of a primary diagnosis of either:

a. Tourettes Disorder / Tourette Syndrome b. Persistent Motor or Vocal Tic Disorder / Chronic Motor or Vocal Tic Disorder c. Provisional Tic Disorder / Transient Motor Tics d. Other Specified Tic Disorder e. Unspecified Tic Disorder f. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder [d] Participants taking psychotropic medication are eligible provided medication type and dose remain stable throughout the intervention period [e] Ability to provide sustained informed consent [f] A minimum score of 16 on YBOCS [g] A minimum score of 5 on the Premonitory Urge for Tics Scale (PUTS)

Exclusion Criteria:

Substance misuse

Current diagnosis of a personality disorder

Schizophrenia

Bipolar disorder

Contraindications to participation in a trial (i.e., active suicidal ideations and/or requirement of an interpreter)

Any psychiatric or neurological condition that, in the opinion of the investigators, would interfere with participation or interpretation of study outcomes.

Study Plan

Study Type: Interventional
Phase: Not Applicable
Enrollment: 40Estimated
Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single

Contacts and Locations

Central Contacts: Dipesh Patel, MPhil / PhDContact
dipesh.patel.23@ucl.ac.uk+44 (0)20 3456 7890

Similar Studies

Participant Group/Arms

Combined Exposure and Response Prevention and Habit ReversalExperimental

Participants allocated to this arm will receive a 12-week individual psychological intervention integrating Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) and Habit Reversal Training (HRT). ERP will involve planned exposure to obsessional fears, distress, sensory discomfort, premonitory urges, and "not-just-right" experiences while reducing compulsions, avoidance, reassurance seeking, and other safety behaviours. HRT will include awareness training, identification of premonitory urges and tic-related cues, development and practice of competing responses, and strategies to support generalisation. Sessions will last approximately 50 minutes and will be delivered face-to-face or remotely.

Behavioral: Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)

Behavioral: Habit Reversal Training (HbRT

Standardised Exposure and Response PreventionActive Comparator

Participants allocated to this arm will receive a 12-week individual psychological intervention based on Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP). Treatment will involve gradual and systematic exposure to obsessional fears, distress, sensory discomfort, premonitory urges, and "not-just-right" experiences while refraining from compulsions, avoidance, reassurance seeking, and other safety behaviours. The intervention aims to reduce obsessive-compulsive symptoms by promoting inhibitory learning and increasing tolerance of uncertainty and internal experiences. Sessions will last approximately 50 minutes and will be delivered face-to-face or remotely.

Behavioral: Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)

Standardised Habit ReversalActive Comparator

Participants allocated to this arm will receive a 12-week individual psychological intervention based on Habit Reversal Training (HbRT). Treatment will include awareness training to improve recognition of tics and premonitory urges, identification of antecedents and contextual triggers, development and practice of competing responses, and strategies to promote generalisation of skills to everyday settings. The intervention aims to reduce tic severity and improve voluntary tic management. Sessions will last approximately 50 minutes and will be delivered face-to-face or remotely.

Behavioral: Habit Reversal Training (HbRT

Psychoeducation / Supportive InterventionActive Comparator

Participants allocated to this arm will receive a 12-week individual psychological intervention consisting of psychoeducation and supportive therapy. Sessions will provide information about obsessive-compulsive disorder, tic disorders, Tourettic obsessive-compulsive disorder, stress, and wellbeing, together with supportive discussion and general problem-solving. This intervention will not include structured Exposure and Response Prevention, Habit Reversal Training, or other targeted behavioural techniques. Sessions will last approximately 50 minutes and will be delivered face-to-face or remotely.

Behavioral: Psychoeducation and Supportive Intervention