Texas A&M researchers are endeavoring to help people who struggle with tic disorders by developing an online self-help program and are paying volunteers to try the program this month.
Douglas Woods, professor and head of Texas A&M’s Department of Psychology, is part of the team developing “TicHelper,” a computer program that helps children and adults recognize and manage their tics.
Tics are habitual spasmodic contractions of the muscles, well known in Tourette Syndrome patients, but can also be caused by a variety of ailments including epilepsy, thyroid disease, nervous system disorders and chemical poisoning.
Woods, who is co-chair of the Tourette Association of America Medical Advisory Board, says TicHelper builds on an already established mode of treatment known as Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics (CBIT).
He says CBIT was developed to be administered by therapists, but it’s difficult for many patients to find CBIT-trained therapists, and if they do, the treatments are costly.
“So we’ve taken CBIT and modified it to be an online self-help program,” Woods explains. “Not only does this mean more open access to treatment, we are also trying to help cut costs.” He says the eventual cost of TicHelper will likely be the same as one visit to a CBIT-trained therapist.
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