An evaluation of the effectiveness of exposure and response prevention on repetitive behaviors associated with Tourette's syndrome.

Wetterneck et al. (2006) worked with an 11-year-old who had Tourette’s. The child showed three repetitive behaviors that caused clear distress.

The team used exposure and response prevention (ERP). They blocked each tic and kept the child in the situation that usually triggered it. They tracked the behaviors across several baselines to be sure any change came from the treatment.

All three behaviors stopped right after ERP began. The child also said the urge and worry dropped to zero.

Three months later some tics came back. The quick win stayed, but it was only partial.

McLennan et al. (2008) later used the same ERP steps with an autistic 12-year-old who had OCD. Tics or compulsions, the tool still worked.

Sannemalm et al. (2025) are now testing ERP through internet sessions with 110 adults. The child success in 2006 pushed them to see if the same idea can travel to telehealth and grown-ups.

Greer et al. (2020) and Greer et al. (2023) show that simply running extinction longer does not stop resurgence. Their null result lines up with the three-month slip seen here — plan for relapse no matter how long the first round lasts.

ERP gives you a fast off-switch for tics and the distress that rides with them. Use it when speed counts, but schedule booster checks at one and three months. Pair the procedure with a long-term plan — teach self-monitoring or add brief top-up sessions so small returns don’t snowball.