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Behavioral Program for Managing Explosive Outbursts in Children with Tourette Syndrome

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Abstract

Tics are the defining characteristic of Tourette syndrome (TS). However, comorbid explosive outbursts (EO) can be more disruptive than tics to the child’s functioning. There are effective treatments for tic management and for oppositional-defiant behavior, but there is no specific treatment for EO in TS. This study assessed the effectiveness of an innovative cognitive-behavioral intervention for decreasing frequency and intensity of EO. A case series of two children (10 and 11 years-old) who participated in the program is presented. The children showed trends towards decreased EO frequency at post treatment but no change in EO intensity. The most significant change appeared to be a decrease in specific targeted behaviors, which were identified as the most disturbing component of EO. The strategies applied to the target behaviors were not generalized to non-targeted components of EO. Qualitative information on factors which may have influenced therapy process and outcome are discussed.

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Notes

  1. The names of the children have been changed to ensure confidentiality.

  2. The treatment manuals can be obtained by contacting the corresponding author.

  3. Information on the full cases series can be obtained from the corresponding author.

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Acknowledgements

This study was funded by a research grant from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (operating grant #57936) for the second and fourth author and by a doctoral research scholarship received by the first author from the same grant. The authors also thank the Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and Tic Disorder Studies Centre team for their participation with assessment and treatment.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Quebec in Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada

    Julie Leclerc & Jacques Forget

  2. Fernand-Seguin Research Centre of Louis-H. Lafontaine Hospital, 7331 Hochelaga St., Montreal, QC, Canada, H1N 3M5

    Julie Leclerc, Kieron P. O’Connor & Marc E. Lavoie

  3. Department of Psychiatry, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada

    Kieron P. O’Connor & Marc E. Lavoie

  4. Department of Psychoeducation and Psychology, University of Quebec in Outaouais, Gatineau, QC, Canada

    Kieron P. O’Connor

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  1. Julie Leclerc
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  2. Kieron P. O’Connor
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  3. Jacques Forget
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  4. Marc E. Lavoie
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Correspondence to Julie Leclerc.

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Leclerc, J., O’Connor, K.P., Forget, J. et al. Behavioral Program for Managing Explosive Outbursts in Children with Tourette Syndrome. J Dev Phys Disabil 23, 33–47 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10882-010-9213-1

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