Researchers at Kennedy Krieger Institute have made significant strides in improving the lives of patients with Tourette syndrome. Their recent publication highlights how behavioral therapies—an approach that teaches patients how to manage certain tics using behavioral strategies—are proving to be the most effective treatment. The findings are published in the journal Psychiatric Clinics of North America .
Tourette syndrome (TS), a neurodevelopmental disorder affecting up to 1% of the population, is characterized by motor and vocal tics , which are sudden, repetitive movements or sounds that can significantly interfere with daily life. TS often comes with other co-occurring conditions like anxiety, ADHD, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), which can make managing the condition more complicated. Dr.
Hala Katato, the lead author on the publication from Kennedy Krieger's psychiatry department, explains that tics can cause significant distress for many patients and that behavioral therapies provide patients with effective tools to manage their symptoms and are the recommended first-line treatment. "Tourette syndrome can be overwhelming for patients and families," said Katato. "However, our research shows that behavioral therapies train patients to recognize early signs of an upcoming tic which then allows them to implement behavioral strategies to reduce tic severity.
" The behavioral therapies in this research are: Dr. Jonathan Muniz, MD, a co-author of the publication, e.