For the first time, the NHS has conditionally approved a digital therapy for treating chronic tic disorders like Tourette syndrome. The therapy, known as ORBIT (Online Remote Behavioural Intervention for Tics), offers online, guided self-help for children and teens aged 9–17.
Developed by researchers at the University of Nottingham, ORBIT uses videos, animations, and interactive scripts over a 10-week program to deliver a form of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) called exposure with response-prevention. Users are guided by a digital «e-coach» throughout the journey.
The decision by NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) follows promising results from a large trial published in The Lancet, where ORBIT was found to double the rate of significant clinical improvement in tics, with effects lasting up to 18 months post-treatment.
This approval is provisional for three years while more data is collected, but it represents a big step forward for digital mental health tools. According to surveys, diagnosis and treatment for tic disorders can take up to two years, and fewer than 20% of children currently have access to behavioural therapy.
ORBIT will serve as a second-line treatment, following psychoeducation, and may improve quality of life for the estimated 300,000+ people in the UK living with tic disorders. It also marks the first digital therapy recommended by NICE for Tourette’s.
Article written by Phil Taylor
12/05/2025
Source:
Pharaphorum
https://pharmaphorum.com/news/digital-therapy-tourette-syndrome-backed-nhs-use