Treatment of Tourette syndrome with attention training technique—a case series
Treatment of Tourette syndrome with attention training technique—a case series
The existing therapeutic strategies of Tourette syndrome (TS) do not lead to sufficient improvement in a significant number of patients. Recently published studies show that paying attention to tics increases whereas directing attention away decreases tic frequency. The aim of the present case series in three patients with TS was to investigate the effect of attention training technique (ATT) on TS symptoms. ATT is a technique derived from metacognitive therapy that aims on training patients to consciously (re-)focus their attention away from themselves. Friedman’s chi-square test indicated a trend regarding the reduction of tic frequency and tic severity and a significant reduction of positive metacognitions from pre-baseline to follow-up. Reliable Change Indices (RCIs) are given for each measure and patient. Given the small number of patients, further studies including randomized controlled trials appear warranted.
Gilles de la Tourette syndrome, attention training technique, metacognitive therapy, psychotherapy, tic
Schaich, Anja
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Brandt, Valerie
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Senft, Alena
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Schiemenz, Christian
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Klein, Jan-Philipp
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Fassbinder, Eva
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Muenchau, Alexander
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Alvarez-Fischer, Daniel
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29 September 2020
Schaich, Anja
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Brandt, Valerie
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Senft, Alena
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Schiemenz, Christian
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Klein, Jan-Philipp
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Fassbinder, Eva
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Muenchau, Alexander
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Alvarez-Fischer, Daniel
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Schaich, Anja, Brandt, Valerie, Senft, Alena, Schiemenz, Christian, Klein, Jan-Philipp, Fassbinder, Eva, Muenchau, Alexander and Alvarez-Fischer, Daniel
(2020)
Treatment of Tourette syndrome with attention training technique—a case series.
Frontiers in Psychiatry, 11, [519931].
(doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2020.519931).
Abstract
The existing therapeutic strategies of Tourette syndrome (TS) do not lead to sufficient improvement in a significant number of patients. Recently published studies show that paying attention to tics increases whereas directing attention away decreases tic frequency. The aim of the present case series in three patients with TS was to investigate the effect of attention training technique (ATT) on TS symptoms. ATT is a technique derived from metacognitive therapy that aims on training patients to consciously (re-)focus their attention away from themselves. Friedman’s chi-square test indicated a trend regarding the reduction of tic frequency and tic severity and a significant reduction of positive metacognitions from pre-baseline to follow-up. Reliable Change Indices (RCIs) are given for each measure and patient. Given the small number of patients, further studies including randomized controlled trials appear warranted.
Text
fpsyt-11-519931
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More information
Accepted/In Press date: 20 August 2020
e-pub ahead of print date: 29 September 2020
Published date: 29 September 2020
Additional Information:
Funding Information:
DA-F was supported by a grant from the Fritz-Thyssen-Stiftung (10.16.1.019MN). AM is supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (FOR 2698). ASc received financial support by Land Schleswig-Holstein within the funding programme Open Access Publikationsfonds. Funding bodies played no role in the design of the study, in the collection, analysis and interpretation of data, in the writing of the manuscript and in the decision to submit the manuscript for publication.
Publisher Copyright:
© Copyright © 2020 Schaich, Brandt, Senft, Schiemenz, Klein, Faßbinder, Münchau and Alvarez-Fischer.
Keywords:
Gilles de la Tourette syndrome, attention training technique, metacognitive therapy, psychotherapy, tic
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 444544
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/444544
ISSN: 1664-0640
PURE UUID: 1364b8eb-05cf-4916-b8bc-c14a83981b02
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Date deposited: 23 Oct 2020 16:32
Last modified: 16 Mar 2024 09:43
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Contributors
Author:
Anja Schaich
Author:
Alena Senft
Author:
Christian Schiemenz
Author:
Jan-Philipp Klein
Author:
Eva Fassbinder
Author:
Alexander Muenchau
Author:
Daniel Alvarez-Fischer
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