Failure to Establish Control over Tics in the Gilles de la Tourette Syndrome with Behaviour Therapy Techniques
PATRICIA L. SAND Ph.D.1 and
COLDEVIN CARLSON M.D.2
1 Clinical Psychologist and Assistant Professor, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Washington Medical & hool, Seattle, Washington 98195, U.S.A.
2 Coldevin Carlson, M.D., PediatricNeurologist and AssociateProfessor,Departmentof Pediatricsand Medicine (Neurology), University of Washington Medical & hool, Seattle, Washington 98195, U.S.A.
Contingency management, self-recording, massed practice, and medication (haloperidol) were used with a 9-year-old subject diagnosed as showing Gilles de la Tourette syndrome. The frequency of vocal and facial/bodily tics over consecutive treatment sessions is graphed. Though significant changes in both the topography of tics and frequency of tics occurred using behavioural tactics, none of the behaviour therapies used decreased the tics to socially acceptable levels. Massed practice appeared to have a greater effect on tic frequency and topography than did the other behaviour therapies. Longer and more rigorously controlled application of massed practice may hold potential for the control of the tic behaviours observed in this syndrome. The subject studied showed a documented and prolonged reduction in tic frequency with medication (haloperidol).
Submitted on May 12, 1972
