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Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Children With Tourette's Syndrome

NCT02356003 · Status: COMPLETED · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 10

Last updated 2020-10-29

Study results available
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Summary

Tics are the core symptom of Tourette syndrome. These are repetitive, sudden, semi-voluntary movements or sounds. In some children, these tics can be especially bad and require treatment, however, options are limited. It is only with time and practice that youth with Tourette syndrome are better able to suppress their tics. For these reasons, new interventions are needed. The investigators will target a brain region involved in tics called the supplementary motor area. Using low frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, the investigators will inhibit the activity, in a similar way to the tic suppression that develops with age. The investigators propose the following objectives: (Aim 1) The investigators hypothesize that Tourette syndrome symptom severity (as measured by the Yale Global Tic severity Scale) will decrease with low frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation targeting the supplementary motor area. (Aim 2) The investigators further hypothesize that improvement in Tourette syndrome symptoms will be moderated by low frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation induced changes in GABA and glutamate in the supplementary motor area, and changes in the functional connectivity between the supplementary motor area and primary motor cortex. Eleven children (7-12 years of age) with Tourette syndrome will be undergo low frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (five times a week for three weeks). After the three weeks, they will look for changes in tic severity and brain chemistry and function. By developing a novel avenue for treating Tourette syndrome, they can directly impact the care of children by reducing the severity of tics and improving quality of life.

Conditions

  • Tourette Syndrome

Interventions

DEVICE

Low frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation

Baseline high-resolution anatomical magnetic resonance images will allow individualized neuronavigation (Brainsight 2, Rogue Research, Montreal QC) to co-register the transcranial magnetic stimulation Airfilm coil (Magistim, UK) precisely to the supplementary motor area as defined by functional magnetic resonance imaging. Interventional low frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation parameters will be: intensity 100% resting motor threshold, frequency 1 Hz, duration = 20 minutes (1200 stimulations). Treatments will occur on each weekday at the same time of day for three weeks (15 total). These are standard parameters for low frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation and are well tolerated in children.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • University of Calgary

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Frank p MacMaster, PhD · University of Calgary

Study Design

Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Model
SINGLE_GROUP

Eligibility

Min Age
7 Years
Max Age
12 Years
Sex
MALE
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2015-05-31
Primary Completion
2018-12-31
Completion
2018-12-31

Countries

  • Canada

Study Locations

More Related Trials

Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT02356003 on ClinicalTrials.gov