A Comparison of the Effects of Massed Practice and Relaxation upon the Frequency of a Facial Tic

Abstract

The effect of two treatments on a facial tic was examined experimentally. The subject, a 53-year-old male, carried out massed practice or relaxation for two periods of 5 min alternating with 5 min assessment periods during which he engaged in free conversation around key words. This was followed by a further two periods of the alternative treatment and intervening assessment periods. Pulse rate was monitored throughout and the procedure concluded with a 5 min period of covert assessment of tic frequency. Sessions were held on four consecutive days. Tic frequency was observed to increase following massed practice and marginally following relaxation. The latter treatment, however, was found to be effective in reducing tic frequency during the treatment block itself. The results are discussed in terms of the subject's general level of anxiety and the anxiety induced by the massed practice procedure.