Title:
The premonitory urge for tics scale: factor analysis and clinical characteristics
Author:
Jeremy M. Raines
Thesis Advisor:
Martin F. Sherman
Committee Member:
Matthew W. Kirkhart
Committee Member:
Christopher I. Higginson
Committee Member:
Amanda M. Thomas
Committee Member:
Matthew W. Specht
Degree Granting Institution:
Loyola University Maryland--College of Arts and Sciences
Place:
Baltimore (Md.)
Publisher:
Loyola University Maryland
Date Created:
2016
Type of Resource:
text
Genre:
thesis
Language:
eng
Format:
application/pdf
Physical Form:
electronic
Digital Source:
born digital
Abstract:
Tourette's disorder (TD) and persistent tic disorders (PTDs) are defined by the presence of motor and/or vocal tics. However, literature has suggested many individuals experience an unpleasant sensation or ?ǣpremonitory urge, prior to completion of their tics. At this time, the nature and etiology of premonitory urges are unknown. The Premonitory Urge for Tics Scale (PUTS) was developed to standardize the assessment of premonitory urge phenomenon. Since its development, no known study has attempted to expand upon the clinical and research utility of the PUTS. Data collected was archival and initially used for the clinical treatment of 84 children and adolescents at a large medical facility in the mid-Atlantic region. Patients completed the PUTS and the patients' parents completed the parent tic questionnaire (PTQ), a scale used to assess tic severity. As was hypothesized, results showed that the patient responses to the PUTS were overall not statistically different from the responses found in the original PUTS study. Results of inter-item correlations and reliability indices suggested that PUTS items 9 and 10 were not measuring the same construct as the other eight items and were therefore removed from further analyses, including the factor analysis. In partial support of the hypotheses, results suggested a two factor structure of the PUTS, containing factors for Uncomfortable Urges and Consistent Energy Urges. Exploratory analyses concerning the potential effects of gender on urges and tics revealed few statistical differences between genders based on PUTS and PTQ responses. Contrary to what was hypothesized, patients aged 10 and under were not significantly different than patients older than 10 regarding PUTS or PTQ responses. As was hypothesized, PUTS and PTQ scores were not statistically different between patients with comorbid OCD or comorbid ADHD. Finally, contrary to what was hypothesized, results suggested mostly nonsignificant correlations between the PUTS items and factors and the PTQ subscales. These findings indicate that there are perhaps two underlying constructs which can be measured using the items of the PUTS relating to premonitory urge presentation in individuals with tics. In addition, these results would suggest that urge and tic presentation may not be significantly different between patients with different geographical regions, gender, age, and common comorbid diagnoses. Lastly, it would appear that although tics are often accompanied by urges, the severity of urges is not significantly correlated with tic severity. Limitations, strengths, and suggestions for future research are discussed.
Subject:
Electronic dissertations
Degree:
Master of Science
Level:
Master
Discipline:
Clinical Psychology
Restrictions on Access:
Author has given permission to make this work available online.
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Identifier:
RainesJM-16
