Online Remote Behavioural Intervention for Tics (ORBIT)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Therapist-guided, parent-assisted remote digital behavioural intervention for tics in children and adolescents with Tourette syndrome: an internal pilot study and single-blind randomised controlled trial
IRAS ID
239173
Contact name
Chris Hollis
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
ISRCTN Number
ISRCTN70758207
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 5 months, 30 days
Research summary
Does a therapist-guided, parent-assisted online intervention improve tics in children and adolescents with Tourette syndrome or chronic tic disorder?
The ORBIT (Online Remote Behavioural Intervention for Tics) trial is comparing the effectiveness of two treatments delivered online for children and young people with Tourette Syndrome or Chronic Tic Disorder. Families in England with a child/young person (aged 9-17 years) who experiences tics are being asked to take part. Interested families undergo a telephone screen with a researcher and then asked to complete an online questionnaire. They then attend a screening appointment at either Great Ormond Street Hospital (London) or Queen’s Medical Centre (Nottingham). Families that are eligible and want to take part are randomly allocated to one of two treatments. One treatment uses behavioural therapy (BT), the other involves psychoeducation. Both treatments last for 10-weeks and involve completing online chapters (for the parent and child) with the support of a therapist, there are also some tasks to complete offline. After finishing the treatment, families are asked to complete more questionnaires (at 3, 6, 12 and 18 months after starting the treatment). A smaller sample of families and healthcare professionals are also interviewed about their experience of participation. The study is looking to see if the online delivered treatment may be effective at helping children and young people manage their tics. The study is also exploring whether the online programme is acceptable to families, identifying any problems in getting families to take part/complete the programme and also healthcare professionals’ views about the programme. It is important to research online therapy for tics because, at the moment, many people with tics do not get any therapy because there are not enough trained tic therapists. If online delivered treatment is effective, this may mean more children and young people could access tic therapy.
REC name
North West - Greater Manchester Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/NW/0079
Date of REC Opinion
23 Mar 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion