Hostname: page-component-5c6d5d7d68-lvtdw Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-08-15T23:06:53.048Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

A Comparison of the Effects of Massed Practice and Relaxation upon the Frequency of a Facial Tic

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 June 2009

Bronach Crawley  and
Graham Powell
Bronach Crawley
Affiliation:
Institute of Psychiatry, London
Graham Powell
Affiliation:
Institute of Psychiatry, London
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Extract

The effect of two treatments on a facial tic was examined experimentally. The subject, a 53-year-old male, carried out massed practice or relaxation for two periods of 5 min alternating with 5 min assessment periods during which he engaged in free conversation around key words. This was followed by a further two periods of the alternative treatment and intervening assessment periods. Pulse rate was monitored throughout and the procedure concluded with a 5 min period of covert assessment of tic frequency. Sessions were held on four consecutive days. Tic frequency was observed to increase following massed practice and marginally following relaxation. The latter treatment, however, was found to be effective in reducing tic frequency during the treatment block itself. The results are discussed in terms of the subject's general level of anxiety and the anxiety induced by the massed practice procedure.

Type
Clinical/Brief Reports
Information
Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy , Volume 14 , Issue 3 , July 1986 , pp. 249 - 257
Copyright
Copyright © British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies 1986

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Azrin, H., Nunn, R. and Frantz, S. (1980). Habit-reversal vs. negative practice treatment in nervous tics. Behavior Therapy 11, 169–178.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Barr, R., Lovibond, S. and Katsoros, E. (1972). Gilles de la Tourette's syndrome in a brain damaged child. Medical Journal of Australia 2, 372.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Billings, A. (1978). Self-monitoring in the treatment of tics: a single subject analysis. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry 9, 339–342.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Canavan, A. and Powell, G. (1981). The efficacy of several treatments of Gilles de la Tourette's syndrome as assessed in a single case. Behavior Research and Therapy 19, 549–556.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Feldman, R. and Werry, J. (1966). An unsuccessful attempt to treat a tiqueur by massed practice. Behavior Research and Therapy 4, 111–117.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
O'Brien, J. and Brennan, J. (1979). The elimination of a severe long term facial and vocal tic and vocal distortion with multi-facet behavior therapy. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry 10, 257–261.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rafi, A. (1962). Learning theory and treatment of tics. Journal of Psychosomatic Research 6, 71–76.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
St. James-Roberts, N. and Powell, G. (1979). A case-study comparing the effects of relaxation and massed practice upon tic frequency. Behaviour Research and Therapy 17, 401–403.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Turpin, G. (1983). The behavioural management of tic disorders: a critical review. Advances in Behaviour Research and Therapy 5, 203–245.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Turpin, G. and Powell, G. (1984). Effects of massed practice and cue controlled relaxation on tic frequency in Gilles de la Tourette's syndrome. Behaviour Research and Therapy 22, 165–178.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Varnie, J., Boyd, E. and Cataldo, M. (1978). Self-monitoring, external reinforcement and time-out procedures in a hyperactive child. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry 9, 353–358.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Walton, D. (1961). Experimental psychology and the treatment of a tiqueur. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry 2, 148–155.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Yates, A. (1958). The application of learning theory to the treatment of tics. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology 56, 175–182.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Submit a response

Comments

No Comments have been published for this article.