– USF study one of 15 funded by Tourette Syndrome Association –

USF Health faculty at the Rothman Center of Neuropsychiatry at All Children’s Hospital have been awarded a $72,000 grant from the national Tourette Syndrome Association (TSA) to develop a cognitive-behavioral therapy program that promotes coping and resiliency among children and adolescents with tic disorders.

Principal investigator Eric Storch, PhD, associate professor of pediatrics and psychiatry, was one of 15 distinguished TSA awardees this year. He will work with co-investigator Tanya Murphy, MD, professor and Rothman Endowed Chair of Developmental Pediatrics.

Despite considerable research showing high rates of emotional, social, and behavioral difficulties in children and adolescents with tics, there are no standardized treatments addressing the quality of life issues that often impact this group.

“Many youth with tic disorders experience considerable distress about having tics and how others may perceive them,” Dr. Storch said.

“Such symptoms are often more impairing and distressing than the tics themselves and may negatively impact self-concept, social interactions and quality of life. For example, many youth will not participate in activities where they may have to explain their tics to others or be the source of unwanted attention,” he said. “With this funding from the TSA, we have the opportunity to develop and test a treatment protocol that builds resiliency skills, thereby minimizing the impact of their tics on quality of life and functioning.”

The TSA Research Award Program was established in 1984. Each year, the Association’s Scientific Advisory Board designates those scientific areas and applicant projects that offer the most promise for a better understanding of the causes and improved treatments for Tourette syndrome. TS is a neurological disorder characterized by repetitive, sudden, involuntary movements and vocalizations called tics.

The Rothman Neuropsychiatry Center offers comprehensive evaluation and multidisciplinary, individualized treatment for children, adolescents and adults with obsessive-compulsive disorder and other anxiety disorders, Tourette syndrome, autism spectrum disorders and learning disabilities.