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MEETINGS
...the "teaser"
Catania, Italy
5th European Conference on Tourette Syndrome and Tic Disorders
Awards
Upon completion of the final oral presentation & poster rounds on the last day of the conference, attendees e-voted live for "Best of" on both categories.
The Professor Mary Robertson Award 2023 was presented by Mary Robertson herself with the long-standing support of Tourettes Action UK.
Jade-Jocelyne Zouki
Annet Heijerman
Tamara Pringsheim
A prospective longitudinal cohort study
Yasamin Mahjoub
Coralie Beaulieu & Méliza Gagnon
Kaja Andersen
Diana Beljaars
Perspectives of a panel of Tourettic persons and Tourette’s researchers
ePosters
You will find below a digital version of the posters that were presented during the poster rounds; Thursday 8 & Friday 9 June. (titles sorted in alphabetical order)
Click on "more info" to view the original abstract and any additional elements, –such as audio, videos, articles and links–, that each author has shared with us.
The headphones 🎧 icon indicates that a podcast presentation is available.
An exploration of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in young people presenting with functional tic-like behaviours.
Pronin Savva
Brain morphological changes in patients with Tourette syndrome: a voxel- and surface-based morphometry multi-site stud
Schmitt Simon
Changes in Tic suppression ability and urge intensity over a 10-week Habit Reversal Training in Patients with Tourette syndrome.
Eberhard Antonia-Leonie
Characterising young people with functional tic-like behaviours (FTLB) in the context of functional symptoms (FS): preliminary data analysis
Frankland Miles
Clarifying the Differences between Patients with Organic Tics and Functional Tic-like Behaviors
Andersen Kaja
Clinician network as a strategy for building and maintaining competence on Tourette Syndrome and Habit Reversal Training in the specialist health services
Pedersen Kari Anne
Correlation of comorbidities and variability of tics in children with Tourette syndrome and chronic tic disorder
Andersen Kaja
Design of a Phase 3 Maintenance-of-Effect Trial of Ecopipam in Tourette Syndrome
Atkinson Sarah
Development in pharmacological treatment of children with chronic tic disorders during the last two decades in Denmark
Skov Liselotte
Different autoantibody concentrations in serum and CSF in Gilles de la Tourette syndrome
Sühs Kurt-Wolfram
Differential diagnosis of autism-spectrum-disorder (ASD) in adults
Alvarez-Fischer Daniel
Efficacy, Safety, and Tolerability of Ecopipam in Tourette Syndrome with Psychiatric Comorbidities
Atkinson Sarah
Evaluation of diagnostic instruments for Autism-spectrum-disorder (ASD) in adults
Alvarez-Fischer Daniel
Experiences of self-identification, diagnosis and support for adults seeking a late diagnosis of tic disorders in the United Kingdom
Phoenix-Kane Danni
Exploring Clinical Pathways for Tics and Tourette Syndrome Perspectives from Healthcare Professionals and Patients
Johanna Marie Luise Fijn van Draat
Free or not free? – this is the question. Control over tics and free will in patients with Gilles de la Tourette syndrome
Szejko Natalia
Functional Motor Disorders in pediatrics: clinical motor correlates and neuropsychiatric profiles
Baglioni Valentina
Functional Tic-like behaviours: A Comparison with Tourette syndrome and Functional Symptoms in Children and Adolescents
Smith Abbie
Identifying Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in Young People Presenting with Functional Tic-Like Behaviours
Duncan Morvwen
Influence of persisting primitive reflexes on the expression or triggering of tic disorders or Tourette
Meyers Ralph
Lessons learned from randomized-controlled studies in patients with Tourette syndrome and chronic tic disorders
Klages Carolin
Letting Tourette's be: The importance of understanding lived experience in research and the clinic
Beljaars Diana
Literature review and clinical perspective in the management of functional tic-like behaviours within a tertiary children’s hospital in England
Damodaran Laavanya
Managing functional tic like behaviours: the development of an advice sheet for use in schools
Owen Tamsin
Microaggressions Experienced by Emerging Adults (16-25years old) with Tourette Syndrome
Beaulieu Coralie, Gagnon Méliza
Non-just-right experiences are more closely related to OCD than tics in Tourette patients
Cramer Catharina
Placebo Effect in Randomized Clinical Trials of Patients with Tic Disorders–Results of Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Szejko Natalia
Premonitory urge and tic severity, comorbidities, and quality of life in chronic tic disorders
Szejko Natalia
Promising results on a clinical trial to explore the safety and efficacy of Sepranolone in pediatric and adult patients with Tourette syndrome
Biernat Heidi
Proposed Cut-off Values for the Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children (MASC-2), Children’s Depression Inventory (CDI-2) and Conners 3 Parent Assessment Report (Conners 3) in Children with Tic Disorders
Szejko Natalia
Science-society rifts on tics, compulsions, and Tourette’s: Perspectives of a panel of Tourettic persons and Tourette’s researchers
Beljaars Diana
Somatosensory temporal discrimination in adolescents with Tourette Syndrome: a pilot study
Baglioni Valentina
Surveillance study of a UK cohort of adolescents presenting with functional tic-like behaviours (FTLB)
Ducroizet Alexandra
The Calgary and Paris (CAP) Adult Tic Registry: Project description and initial analyses of sex differences in tic phenomenology
Nilles Christelle
The Tourette OCD Alberta Network: Development of an Educational Outreach Program for Schools
Fletcher Julian
The Tourette OCD Alberta Network: Development of an Online Parental Peer Discussion Group
Fletcher Julian
The retrospective analysis of outcomes of pediatric patients with functional tic-like behaviors – What lessons have we learnt?
Tomczak Kinga
“For the love of God just refer me” - A coproduced qualitative project into the struggles of accessing healthcare services for those living with Tourette Syndrome in the UK
Babbage Camilla
Book of abstracts
A record-breaking –57!– number of abstracts, were presented in Brussels, 30% of which were submitted from researchers outside Europe.
From Calgary to Melbourne...
Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, UK, USA.
Thank you all for your contribution and for keeping the collaborative spirit in top shape! 🚀
Speakers' slides
Courtesy of our speakers to conference attendees and ESSTS members; we are making available upon request and for a limited period of time (until 1st October 2023) the PDFs of their presentations. A special thank you to all those who shared their valuable work with the community!
Past this date, ESSTS members will have the opportunity to directly download the files below from their respective member area (new feature coming up!).
A new feature was introduced in Brussels; audio presentations of the conference posters recorded by the authors themselves and made available in a podcast format.
click!
📸 A photo journey immortalising the Brussels "on stage and backstage" experience!
(We did our best to collect as many photos as possible. Feel free to get in touch, if you'd like to...contribute to the collection!)
Programme
click to view PDF version
Behavioural therapy for tic disorders
Behavioural therapy for tic disorders
Behavioural therapy for tic disorders
Focus on ASD & functional tics
Picking, pulling, and pinching: the role of habit and harm in TS
focusing on the neurodiversity perspective and thinking through the implications for the sorts of treatments & support that should be offered.
Attendees who register for the social event above, will receive a complimentary ticket to visit the museum during the late opening slot.
Awards
Upon completion of the final oral presentation & poster rounds on the last day of the conference, attendees e-voted live for "Best of" on both categories.
The Professor Mary Robertson Award 2022 was presented by Jeremy Stern, Honorary Medical Director for Tourette's Action UK.
Simon Morand-Beaulieu
Per Andrén
Christelle Nilles
Julian Fletcher
Carolin Fremer
Ekaterina Ivanova
Gesine Sallandt
Joanna Loayza
Kari Anne Pedersen
ePosters
You will find below a digital version of the posters presented during the 2 poster rounds, –Friday 10 & Saturday 11 June–, as well as posters that were submitted by authors assigned an oral presentation (titles sorted in alphabetical order).
Click on "more info" to view the original abstract, contact the authors and view any additional elements they might have shared.
A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled crossover trial of medical cannabis in adults with Tourette syndrome
Abi-Jaoude Elia
Artificial intelligence as an avenue for research and clinical work related to tic disorders
Szejko Natalia
Brain networks associated with disruptive behavior in children with Tourette syndrome
Morand-Beaulieu Simon
Clinical characteristics in mass social media-induced illness with functional Tourette-like behavior compared to Tourette syndrome
Fremer Carolin
ENIGMA-TS: A worldwide platform for collaboration on the study of Tourette Syndrome genetics and neuroimaging
Paschou Peristera
Early Development Difficulties as Predictors for Tic and Comorbid Severity, an EMTICS Study
Steinberg Tamar
Further characterisation of the rat model of Tourette-related striatal disinhibition in vivo electrophysiological and behavioural studies
Loayza Joanna
Mass social media-induced illness presenting with Tourette-like behavior impact of unconscious intrapsychic conflicts, structural deficits, and maintaining factors
Fremer Carolin
Moderating Role of Depression on the Association of Tic Severity with Functional Impairment in Children
Feldman Sadeh Dana
Network localization of tics: Evidence from coordinate and lesion network mapping
Zouki Jade-Jocelyn
Neural, physiological and behavioural correlates of empathy for pain in Tourette syndrome
Weiblen Ronja
Predictors of response to behavioral therapy in children with Tourette syndrome – results of the machine learning study
Szejko Natalia
Psychiatric comorbidities in patients with mass social media-induced illness presenting with Tourette-like behavior
Fremer Carolin
Specific Features of Tics and Stereotypies Interview – Exploratory Study on a Semi-Structured Interview to establish the differential diagnosis between tics and stereotypies
Nobre Soraia Carioca
Therapist-guided exposure and response prevention treatment for adults with TS/CTD delivered via internet-(TICNET) a pilot trial
Ivanova Ekaterina
Tourette Syndrome and rage attacks in children and adolescents. A longitudinal study
Cintin Ida
Book of abstracts
Although our previous –virtual– meeting only took place 9 months prior to the Lausanne conference, one thing is certain; researchers around the world have been working tirelessly, submitting large numbers of excellent abstracts. We accepted 38 abstracts back in October 2021 and 48 last June in Lausanne.
Thank you all for your contribution and for keeping the collaborative spirit in top shape! 🚀
From Calgary to Melbourne...
Australia, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Israel, Italy, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Sweden, UK, USA
eGoodies
Courtesy of great guest speakers and trainers; we are making available for a limited period of time the PDFs of their presentations. A special thank you to all those who shared their valuable work with the community!
Controversy & poll
Are functional tics easy to diagnose?
As promised when we first introduced controversy discussions followed by live polling during the Hannover meeting in 2019, it was indeed only the beginning!
This year, 2 esteemed colleagues from the University of Calgary, Tamara Pringsheim and Davide Martino took the stage and debated on a genuinely controversial topic; are functional tics easy to diagnose?
As you can see from the results...no landslide victory for either debater, yet Tamara's smile says it all! 💪
Both speakers have made their presentations available online; scroll to view them on the following section.
Programme
"Tic treatment – Learn how to become a tic therapist or enhance your skills."
Workshop in English for beginner participants.
(view programme)
"Exciting advances in Group treatment for Tics and Tourette syndrome."
Workshop in English for advanced participants.
(view programme)
"Functional, Tourette-like behaviours; an evolving landscape"
Confirm attendance
click!
Patient association meeting-TTAG's virtual session
Meet some of TTAG's board of directors and global patient association representatives: Argentina, Belgium, Italy (Tourette Italia), Mexico, New Zealand, Portugal, Spain, United Kingdom, USA-New Jersey.
Jana and Natalia, you are coming to Lausanne next year!
Recordings
If you were unable to attend, or would simply like to ... 📺 binge-watch these great presentations again..
The majority of the session recordings are now available and will remain online for at least 3 months after the completion of the Conference.
Welcome message by the ESSTS Board
Welcome to the 13th European Conference on Tourette Syndrome & Tic Disorders!
Plenary session on behavioural interventions for tics
Programme
Presentation of results of a randomized observer blind clinical trial to demonstrate the efficacy and safety of internet-delivered behavioural treatment for adults with tic disorders (ONLINE-TICS)
Therapist-Supported Online Remote Behavioural Intervention for Tics (ORBIT) in Children and Adolescents: A Single-Blind Randomised Controlled Trial
Development of a Self-help Digital Intervention for Young People with Tourette Syndrome
Applying an established Exposure Response Prevention protocol for Young People with Tourette’s syndrome in an intensive, group format: a UK feasibility study.
Plenary session on functional, “Tourette-like” behaviours exacerbated by COVID-19 pandemic, Part I
Programme
Compilation of FTB patients' clips diffused over social networks
Prepared by Natalia Szejko
ESSTS survey results "Evaluating frequency and clinical variability of functional tics and Tourette-like behaviours in Europe and all around the globe"
Presented by Natalia Szejko
Plenary session on functional, “Tourette-like” behaviours exacerbated by COVID-19 pandemic, Part II
Programme
Case reports and discussion about underlying pathophysiology
Tamara Pringsheim & Davide Martino (CANADA)
- Rapid onset of functional tic like behaviours in adults during the COVID-19 pandemic
Seonaid Anderson (BELGIUM) (article)
- Tics on TV - Tourette syndrome and the media: lived experiences
- Functional Presentations in a Tic Disorder Clinic
Morvwen Duncan (UK)
- Mixed methods follow-up of children and young people following a diagnosis of functional tics: a prospective study
Tammy Hedderly (UK)
- Atypical tic-like presentations during the COVID19 pandemic
Nanette Mol Debes (DENMARK)
- Functional tics – experiences from Denmark
Peter Nagy (HUNGARY)
- Atypical Tic Cases
Theresa Paulus (GERMANY)
- Pandemic tic-like behaviours following social media consumption
Kirsten R. Müller-Vahl (GERMANY)
- Stop that! It’s not Tourette’s but a new type of masssociogenic illness
Cannabis-based treatment in Tourette-Syndrome
Results of the randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial to demonstrate the efficacy and safety of nabiximols (Sativex®) in the treatment of adults with chronic tic disorders (CANNA-TICS)
Epidemiological studies in Tourette syndrome
EMTICS: Results from the large European Multicentre Tics in Children Study
Best papers on tics and TS 2020
Oral presentations of selected abstracts, Session I
Programme
Essing Jana (🏆 Best oral presentation)
- Premonitory urges reconsidered: urge location corresponds to tic location in patients with primary tic disorders
- The relationship between premonitory urges and tics, comorbidities, quality of life, and treatment
- Inter-individual differences in urge-tic associations in Tourette syndrome
- Detecting the functional anatomy of the urge-to-blink
- Somatosensory perception-action binding in Tourette syndrome
-Brain mechanisms of cognitive control in youth with Tourette syndrome and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: an EEG study
-Objective quantification of tic expression in Tourette syndrome patients
Oral presentations of selected abstracts, Session II
Programme
Szejko Natalia (🏆 Best ePoster)
- There is nothing Tourettic about the New York City subways” - representation of tics and Tourette syndrome in literature, cinema, and theatre
- Sex Differences in Tourette Syndrome
- Pain and Pain Management in Tics and Tourette Syndrome
- Tics and sleep: Qualitative insights from parents of children with Tourette syndrome
- An innovative person-centred research approach for Tourette’s
-Self-injurious behaviour in patients with chronic tic disorders – new insights and preliminary validation of the self-injurious behaviour scale (SIBS)
Behavioural Therapy workshop for beginner participants
An introduction to behavioural therapy for therapists interested in treating patients with tic disorders. The workshop includes a brief introduction to tic disorders and a step-by-stepin struction to the currently recommended evidence-based behavioural treatments: habit reversal training (HRT) and exposure and response prevention (ERP). Presenters are Dr. Ewgeni Jakubovski from Hannover Medical School, Germany, and PhD candidate Per Andrén from Karolinska Institutet, Sweden.
Programme
- Opening message by the board
- Summary of the 2021 ESSTS guidelines for psychological interventions (Ewgeni Jakubovski & Per Andrén)
- Psychoeducation Ewgeni Jakubovski
- Habit reversal training (HRT) / Comprehensive behavioural intervention for tics (CBIT) Ewgeni Jakubovski
- Exposure and response prevention (ERP) Per Andrén
Behavioural Therapy workshop for advanced participants
Due to the sensitive nature of the clinical material presented in this workshop, the recording of the session will not be made available online.
Do not hesitate to get directly in touch with the trainers to request more information.
(Alphabetical order)
Tara Murphy (UK), Charlotte Sanderson (UK), Zsanett Tárnok (Hungary), Jolande van de Griendt and Cara Verdellen (The Netherlands)
Programme
- Opening by the board & in memoriam of Kieron O’Connor
- Comorbidities/ complex cases:
• Introduction – Charlotte Sanderson
• ADHD – Zsanett Tárnok
• OCD – Jolande van de Griendt
• ASD – Charlotte Sanderson & Tara Murphy
- Functional Tics:
• Diagnostics – Cara Verdellen
• Group Work - Tara Murphy
• Treatment by hypnosis - Cara Verdellen
• Treatment by catalepsy - Jolande van de Griendt
Tics and Tourette Across the Globe (TTAG)
Patient associations session
Tics and Tourette Across the Globe (TTAG) is an umbrella association representing Tic and Tourette Syndrome advocacy groups across the globe, thus creating a united voice for those affected by this neurodevelopmental disorder.
Advocates, clinicians and scientists across the world collaborate to benefit those affected by Tourette Syndrome or tic disorders.
Get in touch with TTAG:
Email, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, GoFundMe
ePosters
A loud 📢 thank you to all the authors who shared with us their hard work and exceeded our conservative expectations of abstract submissions this virtual year!
You will find below a comprehensive list of the Conference ePosters (titles in alphabetical order).
Click on "more info" to view the supporting material (videos & articles) that some of the authors have provided.
A question of information mismatch: The effect of ADHD stimulant medications on Tourette's syndrome
Hisham Idura N.
CANNA-TICS Efficacy and Safety of Nabiximols in the Treatment of Adults with Chronic Tic Disorders
Haas Martina
Candidate Genes and Pathways Associated with Gilles de la Tourette syndrome — Where are we?
Levy Amanda
Characteristics of tics in follow-up study of community-based high risk cohort of 2511 children
Szejko Natalia
Contextualising Compulsive Acts: The value of studying lived experiences in everyday spaces.
Beljaars Diana
Contribution of rare and non-coding genetic variants to Gilles de la Tourette syndrome
Borczyk Malgorzata
EWAS of monozygotic twins implicate a role of mTOR pathway in pathogenesis of tic spectrum disorder
Hildonen Mathis
Elevated Expression of SLC6A4 Encoding the Serotonin Transporter (SERT) in Gilles de la Tourette Syndrome
Levy Amanda
Fine motor skills in children with Tourette’s Syndrome and their unaffected siblings
Boeg Tygesen Marie Louise
Mycoplasma pneumoniae IgG positivity is associated with tic severity in chronic tic disorders
Bond Molly & Schnell Jaana
Questioning the definition of Tourette syndrome – evidence from machine learning
Paulus Theresa
Reduction of tics after CBIT is not associated with change in EEG alpha coherence during a Go/No-Go task in children with Tourette syndrome
Sukhodolsky Denis
The severity of tics in patients with Gilles de la Tourette syndrome and comorbid Autism Spectrum Disorder
Kaczyńska Justyna
There is nothing Tourettic about the New York City subways-representation of tics and Tourette syndrome in literature, cinema, and theatre
Szejko Natalia
Premonitory urges reconsidered: urge location corresponds to tic location in patients with primary tic disorders
Essing Jana
Self-Injurious Behaviour in Patients with Chronic Tic Disorders – new Insights and preliminary Validation of the Self-injurious Behaviour Scale (SIBS)
Szejko Natalia
Programme
- Welcome online! Introduction by ESSTS Chair, Kirsten Müller-Vahl and presentation of the new Board
- Interview with James Leckman (30 min)
- Update on immunology in Tourette Syndrome/tics, by Davide Martino (20 min)
- Update on Behavioural Therapy in Tourette Syndrome by Per Andrén (20 min)
- Best papers of 2019 by Kevin Black (40 min)
- Live Q&A session with the Davide Martino (moderator: Nanette Mol Debes) & Per Andrén (moderator: Cara Verdellen)
Invited speakers
Behavioural therapy goodie
BT updates, a summary of treatment guidelines and new studies on BT for Tourette Syndrome & chronic tic disorders
Clinical psychologist and PhD student at Karolinska Institutet Per Andrén, has kindly made available to our attendees and now to all interested parties the slides of his presentation. Feel free to download!
Watch the recording
Did you miss it? Do you miss it? Off we go! 😎
A special welcome...
In this video, invited guitarist Michael Seubert is trying to keep-up with Kirsten's superior technique at the opening ceremony!
The unstoppable Mary Robertson greets ESSTS from mid-Atlantic!
Awards
This year, for the first time, the audience e-voted live for the awards.
Per Andrén
Fotis Tsetsos
Maria Hadji-Michael
Martina Haas
Ewgeni Jakubovski
Laura Beljaars
Mayaan Halevi
Yarisa Nicola Piris
Chloe Taylor
Per ANDREN
Clinical and cost-effectiveness of Internet-delivered behaviour therapy for children and adolescents with Tourette syndrome: Protocol for a single-blind randomised controlled trial in Sweden
Fotis tsetsos
Genome-wide association study of Tourette investigates the genetic determinants of Tourette and implicates neuronal and synaptic processes
Maria HADJI-MICHAEl
Alexithymia and interoception in children with Tourette syndrome: A clinical audit
Martina HAAS
YGTSS: A critical look at the psychometric quality of the gold standard based on EMTICS data
Ewgeni JAKUBOVSKI
ABX-1431, A First-in-Class Endocannabinoid Modulator, Improves Tics in Adult Patients with Tourette Syndrome
Laura BELJAARS
ESSTS Patient Groups: The whole is greater than the sum of its parts
Mayaan HALEVI
“Tic Attacks” in Tourette Syndrome
Yarisa Nicola PIRIS
Sexuality and Tourette Syndrome: The impact of sexual self-esteem on sexual practices. Pilot study.
Chloe TAYLOR
A case study of a child with complex TS treated with intensive CBIT and close school liaison
Controversy & poll
...to "T" or not to "T"? Is it time to rename Tourette's?
This year, we introduced live polling for the ePoster and oral presentation awards, but also for our first (though certainly not last!) controversy, titled:
“Is it time to rename Tourette syndrome?”
See the final results on the following chart.
In Jeremy Stern’s immortal and spontaneous comment, "it was Brexit all over again”…😉
Of note, the discussion with the audience was lively and could easily have gone on for much longer. To be continued in Lausanne on this and other topics!
Book of abstracts
Whether you have already retrieved you book of abstracts copy at the Meeting, or you would like to discover this year's programme and submitted abstracts, you may download the full content in this section.
Following CPH 2018 tradition, we have prepared the Hannover 2019 Lookbook, in an effort to capture the beautiful spirit of our society throughout its annual meetings.
Awards
Paula Viefhaus
Anne Gersdorff Korsgaard
Leanne Hockey
Juan Carlos Baldermann
Paula Viefhaus
Efficacy of a Resource Activation Treatment in Children with Chronic Tic Disorders – A Within-Subject Analysis
Leanne Hockey
Attention and inhibition in Tourette’s Syndrome
Juan Carlos Baldermann
Stimulation-dependent functional connectivity of effective deep brain stimulation for Tourette Syndrome
Anne Gersdorff Korsgaard
Book of abstracts
On stage & backstage
