2025 Annual Report

“Because of our CBIT program, we have the unique opportunity to avoid the use of medications in many children with tics.”

LEON S. DURE, M.D.

NON-MEDICINAL TREATMENT

Parental misunderstandings are a common response neurologists encounter when a child is diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome. “Parents often think that a child must have a specific kind of tic, like yelling or shouting, to have TS,” Gantz said. “They may believe it is caused by a concussion, an infection or a medication; however, TS is a genetic condition.” TS is not a degenerative condition of the brain, meaning there is not a decay or decline in organ function. This can be another initial misconception for parents of children who are diagnosed. Social factors are another primary concern, as parents begin fearing their child will stand out, be made fun of or be seen as different.

Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics (CBIT) is a specialized therapy designed to help children learn strategies to suppress or manage their tics if they choose to do so. Leon S. Dure, M.D., professor, William Bew White, Jr. Endowed Chair, and director of the UAB Division of Pediatric Neurology, says while not a cure, the program and therapy provide children with tools to help them. “CBIT is the first-line treatment for tics, and because of our CBIT program, we have the unique opportunity to avoid the use of medications in many children with tics,” Dure said.

Thanks to Dure’s leadership, the UAB Pediatric

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2025 ACADEMIC ANNUAL REPORT