A new study will explore the onset and worsening of tics and obsessive-compulsive symptoms in children and adolescents.
The study, underway at TANDeM (Evelina Children’s Hospital), University College London Hospital & Great Ormond Street Hospital, will explore the onset and worsening of tics in children and adolescents (aged 3-16 years old).
This European Commission funded study is called EMTICS — European Multicentre Tics in Children Study. The aims of this research are to better understand tic disorders and the factors, such as genetics, stress and anxiety which may affect tic worsening.
It is also investigating the involvement of the immune system in the onset of tics, which has been known as the Paediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders associated with Streptococcus (PANDAS) hypothesis. Currently, it is unknown whether PANDAS play a role in the development of tics and Tourette Syndrome, and this is the first study to investigate children to see if this is related to tic presentation. The study may include unaffected siblings of children with a tic disorder in this study to find out more about the familial onset of tics.
This study will run for up to four years and participants will be required to have regular hospital appointments to see how the tics change over time. You will also be contacted via telephone between hospital visits to follow your progress. You will be asked to complete questionnaires and to donate hair, throat swabs and blood samples throughout the study. Parents of children with tics, and unaffected siblings without tics are invited to participate.
If you are interested in taking part, e-mail Martin Woods or call 07920246200.
