Combined Habit Reversal Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Treatment of Tics in Tourette Syndrome: A Pilot Study of Effectiveness and Response Duration

Background: Few studies have examined the effectiveness and duration of mindfulness-based therapies for tics in Tourette's syndrome. This study combined habit reversal therapy (HRT) with acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy and response duration of HRT + ACT in reducing tic severity in adults with Tourette's Syndrome. Methods: Tic severity was assessed at baseline, post-intervention, and at 6- and 12-month follow-ups using the Yale Global Tic Severity Scale (YGTSS) and video assessments. The intervention included eight weekly 1-h sessions. Results: Mixed-effects regression showed significant reductions in tic severity post-treatment (b = −10.36, P = 0.002), maintained at 6 months (b = −8.19, P = 0.012) and 12 months (b = −8.82, P = 0.009). Video assessments confirmed these findings. Conclusion: The HRT + ACT protocol effectively reduced tic severity, with benefits lasting 12 months. These results support further trials to compare HRT + ACT with HRT alone.