How to stop tics (WITHOUT MEDICATION)

Summary

In this episode, neuroscience researcher Alie Caldwell joins The Psych Show to discuss Tourette's syndrome and the role of therapy in managing tics. Alie explains how CBIT (Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics) uses awareness training and competing responses to help individuals control their tics. Using a metaphor from 'Lord of the Rings,' Alie breaks down how the brain’s neural signals trigger tics and how therapy strengthens defenses. The video also highlights the effectiveness of CBIT compared to medications, emphasizing its potential for rewiring the brain and improving quality of life.

Takeaways

• 😀 CBIT (Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics) is an 8-session therapy that helps individuals manage tics without relying solely on medications.
• 😀 Medications for Tourette's syndrome can have significant side effects, such as weight gain and difficulty focusing, which often worry parents.
• 😀 The therapy focuses on building awareness of premonitory urges (sensations before a tic) to help individuals manage their tics more effectively.
• 😀 A premonitory urge is similar to the sensation one feels just before performing a tic, like the overwhelming urge to blink in the example provided.
• 😀 Competing responses are strategies to counteract tics by engaging the opposite muscle groups or behaviors to reduce the tic urges.
• 😀 Some examples of competing responses include controlled blinking for eye tics and deep breathing for vocal tics.
• 😀 The therapy helps patients ‘re-wire’ their brains by using the brain's ability to form new neural connections, strengthening defenses against tic-inducing signals.
• 😀 CBIT is as effective as medications for about half of the people who try it, but it may not work as well for individuals with multiple diagnoses, such as ADHD and Tourette's.
• 😀 CBIT’s goal is to teach patients how to recognize and manage the urges and environmental triggers that lead to tics, enhancing emotional regulation.
• 😀 The approach also involves teaching parents how to manage tics by encouraging competing responses and ignoring tics, creating a supportive environment.
• 😀 Alie Caldwell's work in neuroscience helps break down complex scientific concepts in an accessible and engaging way, blending education with humor and pop culture references.

Q & A

What is the primary focus of the YouTube channel Neuro Transmissions?

Neuro Transmissions, hosted by Alie Caldwell, is all about neuroscience. It covers a wide range of topics, including disorders like Tourette's syndrome, the brain's functions, and the impact of neurobiology on behavior.

How does Tourette's syndrome affect movement and behavior?

Tourette's syndrome leads to sudden, repetitive movements and vocalizations (called tics). These tics are rooted in the basal ganglia, with dopamine playing a role in how movement signals are processed and how tics manifest.

Why was there skepticism about therapy for Tourette's syndrome initially?

Initially, many researchers doubted the effectiveness of therapy for Tourette's because tics are often seen as involuntary. Additionally, suppressing tics could sometimes worsen them, and medications already seemed to be an effective treatment.

What are some of the common side effects of medications for Tourette's syndrome?

Medications for Tourette's syndrome can have side effects such as weight gain, difficulty with thinking and focusing, and other cognitive issues, which can lead to concerns, especially for parents of children undergoing treatment.

What is Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics (CBIT)?

CBIT is an 8-session treatment, usually spread over 10 weeks, that combines behavioral therapy, habit reversal, and emotional regulation to help individuals with Tourette's become more aware of their tics and learn how to manage them.

How does the Battle of Helm's Deep analogy relate to tics in CBIT?

In CBIT, tics are likened to an invading army, like the Uruk-hai at Helm's Deep. The goal is to strengthen defenses (through awareness and competing responses) against these 'rogue' neural signals that cause tics, much like fortifying a vulnerable spot in a fortress.

What role does awareness training play in CBIT?

Awareness training in CBIT helps individuals become highly attuned to the sensations and urges that precede a tic. This helps in identifying the 'premonitory urge,' or the early warning signs, allowing individuals to better manage the tic before it happens.

Can you give an example of a competing response for a tic?

For example, a competing response for eye-blinking tics could be slow, controlled eye closures. The idea is to engage in an action that counters the tic, helping to reduce the urge to perform the tic itself.

Why is neuronal plasticity important in CBIT?

Neuronal plasticity refers to the brain's ability to form new neural connections. In CBIT, this concept is utilized to help individuals strengthen neural pathways that prevent tics, effectively 'rewiring' the brain to resist rogue signals from the basal ganglia.

How effective is CBIT in treating Tourette's syndrome?

CBIT is effective for about half of those who undergo the treatment, which makes it comparable to medications in terms of success. However, it may be less effective for people who have multiple diagnoses, such as Tourette's and ADHD.