An Online Mindfulness-Based Intervention for Tic Disorders: Effect on Comorbid Symptoms.
Kiran Kaur, W Alan Brown, Susanne Hoeppner, Sabine Wilhelm, Hannah E. Reese
Movement Disorders Clinical Practice July 16, 2026 DOI: 10.1002/mdc3.70726 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Pilot randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 28 |
| Population | Adults with Tourette's syndrome or persistent tic disorder |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-based intervention for tics |
| Duration | 8-week intervention, 1-month and 6-month follow-up |
| Topics | Anxiety Depression Meditation |
| Keywords | ADHD Tourette's syndrome Comorbidity Obsessive‐compulsive symptoms Stress Tic disorders |
| Key findings | Mindfulness-based intervention for tics led to significantly greater reductions in obsessive-compulsive symptoms compared to psychoeducation, relaxation, and supportive therapy at posttreatment. |
Abstract
Mindfulness-based approaches show promise for reducing tic severity, yet little is known about their effect on comorbid symptoms. The objective was to evaluate secondary outcomes from a pilot randomized controlled trial comparing mindfulness-based intervention for tics (MBIT) with psychoeducation, relaxation, and supportive therapy (PRST). Twenty-eight adults with Tourette's syndrome or persistent tic disorder were randomized to MBIT or PRST and completed measures of obsessive-compulsive (OC) symptoms, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms, depression, anxiety, stress, and functional impairment at baseline, posttreatment, 1-month, and 6-month follow-up. A significant group-by-time interaction emerged for OC symptoms, indicating a significantly greater reduction in OC symptoms in MBIT compared to PRST at posttreatment. No significant group-by-time interactions emerged for the remaining outcomes at posttreatment. Outcomes at 1- and 6-month follow-ups are reported descriptively. MBIT, relative to PRST, led to significantly greater reductions in OC symptoms. Larger clinical trials are necessary to test these initial findings.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alterations in Brain and Immune Function Produced by Mindfulness Meditation Healthy employees in a work environment | 2003 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 41 |
| Prevention of relapse/recurrence in major depression by mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2000 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 145 |
| Open hearts build lives: Positive emotions, induced through loving-kindness meditation, build consequential personal resources. Working adults | 2008 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 139 |
| Short-term meditation training improves attention and self-regulation Undergraduate Chinese students | 2007 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 40 |
| Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: Replication and Exploration of Differential Relapse Prevention Effects. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2004 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 73 |