
Our guest today is Dr Tara Murphy, a longtime collaborator of the ESSTS' and member of the...BT Dream Team that have been very kindly delivering workshops at our annual conferences aimed at TS professionals.
This webinar discusses the few studies which investigate the relationship between physical exercise and tic disorders, also considering the potential implications on commonly co-occurring conditions. Tara also considers the clinical implications of these findings and how these can translate into clinical work and could inspire and inform future research.
Dr Tara Murphy is a Consultant Paediatric Neuropsychologist and Clinical Psychologist with over two decades of experience with Tic disorders.
She co-leads the National Tic Service and the Paediatric Neuropsychology Service at Great Ormond Street Hospital, London, United Kingdom.
Tara is also involved in research and training. She has co-authored more than 60 peer-reviewed publications, contributed to several book chapters, and co-authored four books. She collaborates with national and international organisations, including Tourette Action and the European Society for the Study of Tourette Syndrome, and is currently pursuing a part-time PhD at the University of Nottingham, focusing on mental health and resilience in youth living in remote areas.
Contact Tara Murphy
Key references
- Caurín, B., Serrano, M., Fernández-Alvarez, E., Campistol, J., & Pérez-Dueñas, B. (2014). Environmental circumstances influencing tic expression in children. European Journal of Paediatric Neurology, 18(2), 157 - 162. doi
- Chan, A. S., Sze, S. L., Siu, N. Y., Lau, E. M., & Cheung, M. C. (2022). A narrative review of the effect of sport and exercise on ADHD symptomatology in children and adolescents with ADHD. Mental Health Review Journal, 28(3). doi
- Doja, A., Bookwala, A., Pohl, D., Rossi-Ricci, A., Barrowman, N., Chan, J., & Longmuir, P. E. (2018). Relationship Between Physical Activity, Tic Severity and Quality of Life in Children with Tourette Syndrome. Canadian Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 27(4).
- Jackson GM, Nixon E, Jackson SR. (2020) Tic frequency and behavioural measures of cognitive control are improved in individuals with Tourette syndrome by aerobic exercise training. Cortex. 2020 Aug;129:188-198. doi. Epub 2020 Mar 29. PMID: 32492517.
- Kim, D. D., Warburton, D. E. R., Wu, N., Barr, A. M., Honer, W. G., & Procyshyn, R. M. (2018). Effects of physical activity on the symptoms of Tourette syndrome: A systematic review. European Psychiatry, 48(1), 13-19.
- Nosratmirshekarlou, E., Shafiq, S., Goodarzi, Z. S., Martino, D., & Pringsheim, T. (2018). Effect of diet, exercise and sleep on tic severity: a scoping review protocol. BMJ Open, 9(7), e024653. doi
- Packer-Hopke, R. M., & Motta, R. W. (2014). The effects of aerobic exercise on childhood Tourette syndrome and ADHD. International Journal of Emergency Mental Health and Human Resilience, 16(2), 124–131.
- Pringsheim, T., Nosratmirshekarlou, E., Doja, A., & Martino, D. (2021). Physical activity, sleep and neuropsychiatric symptom severity in children with Tourette syndrome. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 30, 711–719. doi
- Reilly, C., Grant, M., Bennett, S., Murphy, T., & Heyman, I. (2019). Physical exercise in Tourette syndrome: A systematic review. Child and Adolescent Mental Health, 24(1), 3–11. doi
- Silva, R.R., Munoz, D.M., Barickman, J., & Friedhoff, A.J. (1995). Environmental factors and related to fluctuation of symptoms in children and adolescents with Tourette’s disorder. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 36, 305–312
- Simms, P. L. (2005) Influence of aerobic exercise on the symptom severity of Tourette syndrome. [Referenced in later reviews, possibly unpublished or grey literature].
- Zhu, F., Zhu, X., Bi, X., Kuang, D., Liu, B., Zhou, J., Yang, Y., & Ren, Y. (2023). Comparative effectiveness of various physical exercise interventions on executive functions and related symptoms in children and adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: A systematic review and network meta-analysis. Frontiers in Public Health, 11, 1133727. doi
The Frontiers editorial office will be able to provide more information/answer any questions.
Discover the spectacular destination where we shall meet again next summer!



Invited speakers
- Le relazioni si terranno in lingua inglese con traduzione simultanea in italiano
- Accreditamento ECM per medici, psicologi, infermieri
"A brilliant and empathetic comedy narrating the daily life of a boy with Tourette."
(See detailed programme below)
- Prof Andreas Hartmann, France
Neurologist, Department of Neurology, Hôpital de la Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, FR - Dr Christelle Nilles, France
Neurologist, Department of Neurology, Rothschild Foundation Hospital, Paris, FR
- Michele Dunlap, Germany
President & Acting Treasurer - Marla Shea, UK/USA
Secretary
- Christina Papakaliatis, Founder
-Healthcare professionals: a round table for discussion with the speakers will be held in the afternoon.
Online registration is mandatory to secure your participation.
- This event is strictly available to adults and minors aged 16-17 years old. Underaged attendees will not be permitted access.
- The seminar is offered for educational purposes; clinical consultations with any of the invited healthcare professionals will not be provided onsite.
- Only registered participants may attend the event. We will regrettably not be able to admit other non-registered visitors accompanying you.
- Tourette Greece
- TTAG
- ESSTS
- Assessment (including differential diagnosis)
- Natural course and prognosis
- Epidemiology
- Causes & mechanisms
- Q&A
- ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)
- OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder)
- ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder)
- Mood (anxiety & depression)
- Sleep
- Q&A
- Available treatments
- Clinical cases
- Comprehensive Q&A with the audience
- Tuesday, 27 May 2025: 18:00-20:00 BST. Led by: Virginie Czernecki & Katrin Woitecki
- Tuesday, 30 September 2025: 18:00-20:00 BST. Led by Tara Murphy & Jolande van de Griendt
- Tuesday, 25 November 2025: 18:00-20:00 GMT. Led by: Cara Verdellen & Katrin Woitecki
Registration rate per online consultation (2 hours): €35.
(See detailed programme below)
- Dr Christos Androutsos
Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist
Head Consultant at the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department, SGHA - Dr Anastasia Dougali
Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department, SGHA
- Dr Marinos Kyriakopoulos
Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist
Assistant Professor in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
- Athanasia Makri
Psychologist
MSc in Clinical Psychology
Online registration is mandatory to secure your participation.
- This event is strictly available to adults and minors aged 16-17 years old. Underaged attendees will not be permitted access.
- The seminar is offered for educational purposes; clinical consultations with any of the invited healthcare professionals will not be provided on site.
- Only registered participants may attend the event. We will regrettably not be able to admit other non-registered visitors accompanying you.
- Behavioural approaches being adapted for acceptance – developmental factors
- Working with school, work & family
- Using Schema Therapy techniques to deal with negative childhood experiences that need addressing
- Parents Living Well with Tics; engaging the system to enhance acceptance and well being
Case discussion led by Noa Ben-Aroya, Dana Feldman and John Piacentini