Back to search results

Understanding Tics and Functional Tics

This study aims to better understand the differences between two types of tics: organic tics (related to diagnosed conditions) and functional tics (which have other causes, like how the brain and body communicate). Doctors want to learn more to help make more accurate diagnoses. You might be able to join if you are an adult between 18 and 80 years old with involuntary movements from tics. Healthy volunteers without tics are also needed. The study will look at brain activity (cortical excitability) before tics happen to see if there are differences between the groups. The study is currently unclear on its recruitment status.

Study design
This is an observational study planning to enroll 75 participants. It is designed to explore the physiological differences between patients with tics and functional tics.
What's involved
Participants will have one clinic visit lasting about 4 hours, which may be split over 1 or 2 days.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
The primary endpoint measures brain activity at 2 days, but overall follow-up duration is not specified.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT07137442

Distinguishing Tics and Functional Tics Using Clinical Neurophysiological Techniques

Recruiting
Not specifiedAges 18–80Observational
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
~75 participants
Updated 2026-08-28 on ClinicalTrials.gov

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Cortical excitability as determined by beta power at the vertex
Measured over 2 days

Conditions

Tics
Functional Tics

Explore related trials

Functional TicsTic disorder

Where it's being run

1 sites across 1 states
Maryland1

Study leadership

  • Debra J Ehrlich, M.D. · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

Who to contact

Zhen Ni, Ph.D.
[email protected]
(301) 435-2175
Email the study team

Opens a ready-to-send draft in your own email app — review before sending.

Do you actually qualify for this trial?

Add a private profile and we'll compare every criterion below against your situation — and tell you which ones are met, uncertain, or excluding.

Check eligibility for this trial ~2 min · HIPAA-protected · delete anytime
Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Capacity to provide informed consent (self-consent)
Stated willingness to comply with all study procedures and availability for the duration of the study
Male or female, aged 18-80
Agreement to adhere to Lifestyle Considerations prior to and during the physiological testing visit.

Exclusion

Self-reported consumption of \>14 alcoholic drinks/week\* for a man and \>7 alcoholic drinks/week for a woman
Use of prescription drugs and other illicit drugs that may suppress tics such as dopamine blocking agents and antipsychotics during a certain time period prior to the
Clinically significant abnormal movements on neurological examination except for tics.
Contraindications to EEG or EMG procedures, including skin lesions at electrode sites or hypersensitivity to electrode materials.
History of or current brain tumor, stroke, head trauma with loss of consciousness.
Epilepsy or seizures in the past 12 months.
Have a Baclofen pump, or have neurostimulators for pain.
Pregnant women
Self-reported current major depression or Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II) score \>19, Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale (GAD-7) score \> 9, or any major current psychiatric illness.
Presence of any metal in the eye or skull area such as a brain stimulator, shrapnel, surgical metal, clips in the brain, cochlear implants, metal fragments in the eye.
Presence of pacemaker, intracardiac lines, implanted pumps or stimulators.
Unable to comply with the requirements of the study procedures.
Vocal tics only tested with Modified Rush Video-Based Tic Rating Scale.
Low Premonitory Urge for Tics Scale (PUTS) score \< 9 (maximum 36) with low willingness for tics (patient groups only, not applicable in healthy volunteers).
Note: 1 standard alcoholic drink is 0.6 ounce (14 grams) of pure alcohol.
Note: The certain time period depends on different drugs used. Five half-lives will be selected. The drug is considered effectively eliminated from the body after this time period because the concentration of the drug reaches around 3% of the orininal concentration.

What this trial measures

  • Cortical excitability as determined by beta power at the vertex2 days

    To determine that the cortical excitability excitability before functional tics are different from those before other tics.