10.1177/0145445505279262BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION / September 2005Meidinger et al. / T C SUPPRESSION An Investigation of Tic Suppression and the Rebound Effect in Tourette’s Disorder

Many patients, parents of children with Tourette’s disorder, and professionals have suggested that following a period of suppression, tics will rebound to a rate that will exceed the average rate of occurrence. At present, there are no empirical data to support or refute such an effect. This experiment utilized an A-B-A design with replication to test this hypothesized effect. Following baseline observation, participants were instructed to refrain from exhibiting tics while watching videotapes, engaging in conversation, or while alone in a room with no activity. Observation con-tinued following the suppression phase. Results of this experiment showed suppression of tics in almost one half of all sessions, with adults demonstrating suppression more frequently. Further-more, results of this experiment failed to support a commonly held perception that following a period of voluntary suppression tics will rebound to a rate that will exceed the average rate of occurrence