Promoting tic suppression: Effects of differential reinforcement

Francesca Cavallini, Roberto Cattivelli, Silvia Silvia

This study aimed to compare two structured methods designed to reduce the frequency of tics in a child
with tic disorder not otherwise specified. More specifically, the effects of a verbal instruction not to engage
in tics was compared to a verbal instruction plus the differential reinforcement of zero-rate behavior. The
results showed that the differential reinforcement produced a greater reduction in tic frequency.

Keywords
Tics, verbal instruction, differential reinforcement, single subject.

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