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Speaking of Psychology · February 22, 2025 · 35m
Understanding Tourette Disorder and Tic Disorders
A neuropsychologist explains the brain basis of Tourette disorder — involuntary motor and vocal tics driven by basal ganglia dysfunction — and how recent behavioral therapies (CBIT) are helping patients manage tics without medication.
This summary was generated from show notes and public descriptions, not from a full transcript review. Details may contain inaccuracies.
Highlights
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Tourette syndrome involves involuntary tics driven by basal ganglia dysfunction, not behavioral choices
Mills: tics in Tourette disorder are driven by dysfunction in the basal ganglia — the brain region that controls movement initiation and inhibition. Tics are not behavioral choices, attention-seeking, or signs of emotional disturbance. They're neurological events that the person cannot fully control.•
Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics (CBIT) reduces tics by training competing responses
Mills: CBIT teaches patients to detect the premonitory urge that precedes a tic and perform a 'competing response' — a voluntary movement that is incompatible with the tic — until the urge passes. This doesn't cure Tourette's but can reduce tic frequency by 30-50%.Was this useful?