Habit reversal training for children with tourette syndrome: update and review.

TOPIC: Habit reversal training (HRT) is emerging as an efficacious behavioral intervention for Tourette syndrome in children and adults.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this article is to review the recent literature investigating the efficacy of HRT for treating children with chronic tic disorders.

SOURCES: This review examines single-subject design studies and randomized, controlled trials of HRT conducted in children with chronic tic disorders since 2000.

CONCLUSIONS

Intervention built on HRT appears to be effective for decreasing tic severity in children and adolescents. Results from a recent multisite trial suggest that incorporation of functional analysis may enhance the effectiveness of traditional HRT.