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01-02-2022 | Tic Disorder | Original Contribution

Internet-based guided self-help comprehensive behavioral intervention for tics (ICBIT) for youth with tic disorders: a feasibility and effectiveness study with 6 month-follow-up

Authors: Lilach Rachamim, Sharon Zimmerman-Brenner, Osnat Rachamim, Hila Mualem, Netanel Zingboim, Michael Rotstein

Published in: European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry | Issue 2/2022

Abstract

Practice guidelines endorse comprehensive behavioral intervention for tics (CBIT) as first-line treatment for tic disorders (TD) in youth. Nevertheless, CBIT is rarely available due to various barriers. This study evaluated the feasibility and potential effectiveness of an Internet-based, self-help CBIT program (ICBIT) guided by parents with minimal therapist support delivered via telepsychotherapy. Forty-one youths, aged 7–18 years, were randomly assigned to receive either ICBIT (n = 25) or a wait-list (WL) condition (n = 16) in a crossover design. ICBIT was feasible to implement and at post-treatment, 64% of the participants have improved significantly. Results demonstrated clinically meaningful reductions in tic severity and improved youth global impairment and functioning. Gains were maintained over a 6-month follow-up period. The effect size for the primary outcome measure (Yale Global Tic Severity Scale) ranged between large effect size (Cohen”s d = 0.91) at post-intervention to very large effect size (Cohen’s d = 2.25) 6 months after the end of the acute intervention. These were comparable to face-to-face delivery treatment trials for TD. Participants rated the intervention as highly acceptable and satisfactory. Youth receiving ICBIT experienced improvement in self-esteem and comorbidity. Finally, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the ICBIT program enabled the delivery of the intervention consecutively without interruption. The results observed provide preliminary evidence of the feasibility and effectiveness of this innovative modality to assist youth with TD and remove various barriers to treatment, including those during a public crisis, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Larger studies with an active control group are warranted.

Trial registration URL: http://clinicaltrials.gov, ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04087616.

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Title: Internet-based guided self-help comprehensive behavioral intervention for tics (ICBIT) for youth with tic disorders: a feasibility and effectiveness study with 6 month-follow-up
Authors: Lilach Rachamim
Sharon Zimmerman-Brenner
Osnat Rachamim
Hila Mualem
Netanel Zingboim
Michael Rotstein
Publication date: 01-02-2022
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Keywords: Tic Disorder
COVID-19
Tic Disorder
Published in: European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry / Issue 2/2022
Print ISSN: 1018-8827
Electronic ISSN: 1435-165X
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-020-01686-2

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Internet-based guided self-help comprehensive behavioral intervention for tics (ICBIT) for youth with tic disorders: a feasibility and effectiveness study with 6 month-follow-up

Abstract

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

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