NCT06576726 · Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Sensorimotor and Psychosocial Trajectories in Adolescents With Tic Disorder
What this study is about
Individuals with tic disorders have lower quality of life, sensory and movement difficulties, and poorer mental, social, and physical health compared to the general population.
View original scientific description
Individuals with tic disorders have lower quality of life, sensory and movement difficulties, and poorer mental, social, and physical health compared to the general population. Current clinical care for individuals with tic disorders is limited: no interventions are proven to prevent or stop the disorder exist, and most treatments focus solely on tics, though other symptoms often affect quality of life more than tics. To develop new treatments and improve care for people with tics, researchers need to better understand the different symptoms people experience and how the brain causes these symptoms. Many individuals with tic disorders have sensory and movement symptoms other than tics. A common sensory symptom is increased sensitivity to common sensations, such as glare from sunlight, tags in shirt collars, and noises from passing cars. A common movement symptom is poor handwriting and/or poor coordination. In one study of adolescents with tic disorder, difficulty with hand coordination predicted tic severity 7.5 years later, suggesting that sensory and/or motor difficulties may be a risk factor for more severe tics later in life. Despite how common they are, much is unknown about sensory and motor difficulties experienced by people with tic disorders. Additionally, most studies of people with tics enroll younger children. As a result, little is known about sensory, motor, and psychosocial development in adolescents with tics. Knowledge of sensory and motor difficulties in adolescents with tics is important to understand because, in other adolescent populations, such difficulties are associated with worse mental and social health and worse quality of life. Deepening insight into the sensory, motor, and psychosocial development of adolescents with tic disorders is crucial to identify causes and risk factors for poor health in this population. The goals of this study are to measure sensory and motor symptoms and function in adolescents with tics and to compare them to adolescents without tics. The research team will enroll adolescents with tics and adolescents without tics to participate in the study. Adolescent participants will complete questionnaires, electroencephalogram (EEG) tasks, and other sensory and motor tasks at baseline (with 2 study visits occurring within 30 days of each other) and 2 years later (again, with 2 study visits, occurring within 30 days of each other). A parent or other adult who knows the adolescent well will also complete questionnaires as part of the study.
Interventions
OTHER
This study involves no intervention.
This study involves no intervention.
Primary outcome measures
Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile (AASP)
Time frame: from baseline to 2-year follow-up
validated, 60-item self-report questionnaire assessing sensory experiences
Sensory Perception Quotient
Time frame: from baseline to 2-year follow-up
35-item self-report questionnaire assessing self-perceived basic sensory sensitivity
Sensory Gating Inventory
Time frame: from baseline to 2-year follow-up
validated, 36-item self-report questionnaire assessing sensory over-responsivity
Adolescent Motor Competence Questionnaire (AMCQ)
Time frame: from baseline to 2-year follow-up
validated, 26-item self-report questionnaire assessing self-perceived coordination
Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency, 2nd edition (BOT-2)
Time frame: from baseline to 2-year follow-up
validated, rater-administered scale assessing motor coordination
Purdue pegboard
Time frame: from baseline to 2-year follow-up
validated, rater-administered task assessing manual dexterity and coordination
Vibrotactile battery, with BrainGauge (CM4)
Time frame: from baseline to 2-year follow-up
Device- and rater-administered battery assessing several features of vibrotactile threshold perception, including static threshold detection, dynamic threshold detection, amplitude discrimination without and with adaptation, sequential and simultaneous frequency discrimination
Tactile gating indices
Time frame: from baseline to 2-year follow-up
Participants will undergo a tactile gating paradigm, while monitored on electroencephalogram (EEG), during which puffs of air will be administered to the index finger.
Contingent negative variation indices
Time frame: from baseline to 2-year follow-up
Participants will undergo a contingent negative variation paradigm, while monitored on electroencephalogram (EEG), during which puffs of air will be administered to the index finger, cueing the participant to respond
Who can participate
This study lists these criteria on ClinicalTrials.gov. A study coordinator reviews eligibility during screening — this page does not determine whether you qualify.
Inclusion criteria
- for adolescents with tic disorder:
- adolescent age 11-17 years of age
- adolescent diagnosis of chronic tic disorder (Tourette syndrome, chronic motor tic disorder, chronic vocal tic disorder)
- English-speaking adolescent and caregiver/adult proxy (as validated questionnaires are in English)
- adolescent and caregiver/adult proxy willingness and ability to complete relevant questionnaires *
Exclusion criteria
- for for adolescents with tic disorder:
- cognitive or attentional impairment precluding ability of adolescent or caregiver/adult proxy to complete questionnaires and other study measures
- adolescent diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or psychotic disorder
- adolescent diagnosis of pervasive genetic disorder besides chronic tic disorders and their known comorbidities
- adolescent with severe medical conditions unrelated to chronic tic disorders (e.g. uncontrolled seizures, prominent heart conditions)
- other variables that might influence ratings outside of the typical presentation of chronic tic disorders
- Additional exclusion criteria for EEG tasks for chronic tic disorder sample\*\
- adolescent treatment with stimulant medications or anti-seizure medications within the past 30 days
- use of marijuana or recreational substances within the past 30 days
- history of seizure
- history of hearing loss or abnormalities
- history of neuropathy or overt sensory deficit
- history of brain surgery or skull-penetrating/deforming trauma
- history of stroke, brain cancer, or other significant neurologic illness/disorder \*\
- Individuals excluded based on these criteria are ineligible for the EEG portion of the study but can complete the remainder of the study measures.
- adolescent age 11-17 years of age
- English-speaking adolescent and caregiver/adult proxy (as validated questionnaires are in English)
- adolescent and caregiver/adult proxy willingness and ability to complete relevant questionnaires
- history of tics, ADHD, OCD, or other significant neurodevelopmental or neuropsychiatric disorder. \*\
- Note: adolescents with history of mood or anxiety disorder are eligible.
- cognitive or attentional impairment precluding ability of adolescent or caregiver/adult proxy to complete questionnaires and other study measures
- adolescent diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or psychotic disorder
- adolescent diagnosis of pervasive genetic disorder
- adolescent with severe medical conditions (e.g. uncontrolled seizures, prominent heart conditions)
- other variables that might influence ratings
- Additional exclusion criteria for EEG tasks for control sample\
- adolescent treatment with stimulant medications or anti-seizure medications within the past 30 days
- use of marijuana or recreational substances within the past 30 days
- history of seizure
- history of hearing loss or abnormalities
- history of neuropathy or overt sensory deficit
- history of brain surgery or skull-penetrating/deforming trauma
- history of stroke, brain cancer, or other significant neurologic illness/disorder
Where
- Nashvile, Tennessee
Related conditions & keywords
Frequently asked questions
What is a clinical trial?
A clinical trial is a research study that tests new medical treatments, drugs, devices, or procedures to determine their safety and effectiveness. Trials are carefully designed and monitored to protect participants while advancing medical knowledge.
Is it safe to participate?
Clinical trials follow strict safety guidelines and ethical standards. Trials must be reviewed and approved, and participants are closely monitored by medical professionals throughout the study. You can withdraw at any time if you choose.
Will I be compensated?
Many clinical trials offer compensation for your time, travel expenses, and inconvenience. The specific compensation varies by study and will be discussed during the screening process. All study-related medical care is typically provided at no cost to participants.
Will I receive a placebo instead of treatment?
When effective treatment exists, participants typically receive either the standard treatment plus the study intervention, or the standard treatment plus placebo. You would not be denied effective care. Placebos are primarily used when no proven treatment is available, or in addition to standard care. Your trial consent form will clearly explain what treatments you may receive.
Can I leave a trial if I change my mind?
Absolutely. Participation in clinical trials is completely voluntary. You have the right to withdraw from the study at any time, for any reason, without penalty or loss of benefits to which you are otherwise entitled.
How long does a clinical trial last?
Trial duration varies widely depending on the study design and purpose. Some trials last just a few weeks, while others may continue for months or years. The study coordinator will provide specific timeline information during your screening call.
Data: ClinicalTrials.gov · synced Nov 24, 2025 · Source of record for eligibility and locations