Down to content

STUCK (Support, Think, Understand Complex Kids) - a professionals meeting in Glasgow

Posted on 5 October 2018

Share

Tourettes Action research manager Dr Seonaid Anderson was invited to organise and present a STUCK (Support, Think, Understand Complex Kids) meeting in Glasgow in September.

The aim was to provide an overview of diagnosis, treatment and research into Tourette Syndrome (TS). This was a meeting of Child and Adolescent Mental Health (CAMHS) professionals from Glasgow and beyond. As well as clinical case presentations & discussion of behavioural therapy & telemedicine as part of the day we invited some parents to talk about their experiences of Tourette Syndrome.

Seonaid was joined by Martin Donnelly, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Paediatric Liaison Psychiatry in Glasgow and Liz Murray a forensic psychologist and therapist who presented about different aspects of Tourette Syndrome.

 

martin_donnelly_seonaid_anderson_liz_murray_132

 

Martin kicked off with a general overview of TS and spoke about diagnosis & course and the co-morbidities associated with TS. Martin and Liz both presented clinical cases and discussed behavioural therapy. Emma-Clare Murdoch a Nurse Therapist from Paediatric Liaison Psychiatry also presented a very interesting clinical case. Liz spoke about how she delivers behavioural therapy for tics to adults with TS via telemedicine (via computer remotely to people all across the UK).

After lunch we had parents Louise and Denise talk about their family’s experience of living with Tourette’s Syndrome, both have children who have Tourette Syndrome and some associated conditions. They spoke about diagnosis and treatments if they received any and what school had been like for them.

 

The feedback about hearing from the patients perspective was highly positive:

 

stuck_feedback_132

 

‘Very helpful to get the family view. Also highlighted complexity!’

 

‘Good to hear a parental perspective and to hear what services could do

differently/better’.

 

‘Really powerful, honest accounts of their experiences. Really helpful. Thank you‘.

 

Then Seonaid gave an overview of the latest research findings from previous and current research, and presented some findings from Tourettes Action funded research grants. Seonaid gave an overview of the work that Tourettes Action does in supporting professionals and clinicians who work with children and adults with Tourettes Syndrome. There was so much to report with Tourettes Action holding its first research network meeting since 2009 at the Royal Society of Medicine in London a few weeks ago. Seonaid described the two current research surveys TA has running:

 

• Why TS Matters! A survey about having TS or a Tic Disorder. This information will be useful in raising awareness with the public, funders, policy makers and medical professionals.


• Also there is a short survey about injuries, physical problems or pain due to tics.


Looking into the future to discuss potential collaborations and joint working it was exciting to report that there is a new committee and new chair of the charity Tourette Scotland and in the coming months they will be relaunching their website and increasing activity across Scotland. Also Seonaid, Martin, Emma and Liz have been responsible for setting up the first-ever Scottish Special Interest Group (TS-SIG) for clinicians and therapists, this is a great step forward in raising awareness of Tourette Syndrome and improving the treatment, management and support of people in Scotland with Tourette Syndrome.

Thanks must go to Irene O’Neill and Professor Helen Minnis for organising this event and inviting us to present. Thanks to Martin, Emma and Liz for their excellent presentations. Thanks from all of us to Louise and Denise for coming to talk from a parent’s perspective and sharing their experiences.

If you are interested in hearing more about the work of Tourettes Action please contact Suzanne Dobson. If you would like to find out more about the activities of Tourette Scotland please contact the new chair Kyla McDonald  and if you are a clinican and interested in attending TS-SIG meetings & finding out more about TS, training and events please contact Martin Donnelly or Emma Murdoch.


Return to news


STUCK (Support, Think, Understand Complex Kids) - a professionals meeting in Glasgow

donate