Brain scans reveal clues to impulsivity in tourette syndrome
NCT ID NCT02960698
First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 26, 2026
Summary
This study used brain scans and behavioral tests to explore why people with Tourette syndrome often act impulsively. Researchers compared 80 patients (40 on medication, 40 not) with 40 healthy volunteers. The goal was to map brain connections linked to impulsivity, which could help develop better treatments in the future.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this research could point toward more targeted treatments for impulsivity in Tourette syndrome.
- What could go wrong
- This is an observational study, not a treatment trial. It aims to understand the brain, not to test a therapy, so direct patient benefits are not immediate.
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Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
-
Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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98 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Oct 2016
- Finished
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Apr 2018
- Lead sponsor
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A government agency
The lead sponsor is a government body.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 to 65 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: For all subjects: * ≥ about 18 and 65 years old * About receiving Social Security or universal health coverage or any equivalent plan * About who signed the informed consent For TS patients treated : * TS principal diagnosis, based on the DSM-5 criteria * Stable pharmacological treatment at least 4 weeks prior to study entry; * Possibility of controlling the majority tics of the upper part of the body lying down for at least 10 minutes (frequency tics on YGTSS \<3). For TS patients untreated: * TS principal diagnosis, based on the DSM-5 criteria * No psychotropic treatments (neuroleptics, antidepressants or anxiolytics) mentioned at the time of inclusion. * Possibility of controlling the majority tics of the upper part of the body lying down for at least 10 minutes (frequency tics on YGTSS \<3). In healthy volunteers: * Normal neurological examination (evaluation MINI). * No regular pharmacological treatment with the exception of birth control pills for women Exclusion Criteria: For all patients TS: * Age \<18 years. * Presence One of the following diagnoses Axis I DSM-5: schizophrenic disorders or current psychotic episode or in the past, bipolar disorder, current major depressive disorder autism spectrum. * Abus Psychotropic substance dependency or a psychotropic substance, including alcohol (except nicotine). * Support Regular / chronic drugs and other xenobiotics tropic psychotropic. * Support Treatment with benzodiazepines in the 4 months prior to study entry. -Patient Subject to a measure of legal protection (guardianship, curatorship or safeguard justice). -No private freedom by administrative decision or justice. * No Unable to consent and are not subject to a protection measure. * Participation In other biomedical research or subjected to an exclusion period for another search. * Problems General understanding. * Weight Of more than 150 kg. * Inability To maintain an upper portion of movement of the body lying down for at least 10 minutes (frequency tics on YGTSS\> 3). In healthy volunteers (HV): * psychiatric disorders, cognitive impairment assessed by the MINI scale. * About not being able to understand the tasks * age \<18 years. * No Subject to a measure of legal protection (guardianship, curatorship or safeguard justice). * Participation In other biomedical research or subjected to an exclusion period for another search. * Not Unable to consent and are not subject to a protection measure. * Not private freedom by administrative decision or court For TS patients (treated and untreated) and HV * relative to MRI 3Tesla : pacemaker, cardiac cell or neural stimulator ferromagnetic surgical clips body intraocular or intracranial metallic foreign cochlear implant artificial heart valve or arterial metal surgical equipment metallic material that could concentrate the radio frequency pulses pregnant women, women in labor or lactating aneurism Standing up the eyelids vascular malformation of the brain * Topic not wishing to be informed of a clinically significant abnormality discovered during the realization of MRI
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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HARTMANN
Paris, Île-de-France Region, 75013, France
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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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