ELIMINATION OF A SEVERE LONG-TERM FACIAL TIC AND VOCAL DISTORTION WITH MULTI-FACET BEHAVIOR-THERAPY

A multifaceted behavioral program was designed for a 52-year-old female who had a severe facial tic and vocal distortion for six years. The program included extensive relaxation training combined with an unsuccessful use of massed practice, followed by a habit reversal procedure. This was followed by a continuation of relaxation training, in vivo metronomeinduced desensitization and a prosthetic response prevention and feedback device which restricted the client's spasmodic jaw movements. Also, audio and video feedback equipment was used in some sessions. This study supports the value of on-going behavioral analysis in developing a successful therapeutic intervention. During a 24-month follow-up period the client remained completely free of the tic and of the related speech distortion. © 1979.