An investigation into mothers' experiences of their children's functional tic-like behaviour and tic attacks.

Objective: This is the first study to systematically explore the lived experiences of sudden and new onset of severe functional tics from the perspective of the mother's experiences and describes their attempts to access support services in the United Kingdom.

Method: Twenty-One mothers of young people aged between 12 to 17 years with functional tic-like behaviour (FTLB) took part in semi-structured interviews. Thematic analysis of the transcribed interviews revealed gaps and inconsistencies within the process of gaining access to professional services and a lack of support for the management of tics and functional tic-like movements, in addition to highlighting the impact it had on daily family life.

Quality standards for the management of alcohol-related liver disease: consensus recommendations from the British Association for the Study of the Liver and British Society of Gastroenterology ARLD special interest group.

Objective: Alcohol-related liver disease (ALD) is the most common cause of liver-related ill health and liver-related deaths in the UK, and deaths from ALD have doubled in the last decade. The management of ALD requires treatment of both liver disease and alcohol use; this necessitates effective and constructive multidisciplinary working. To support this, we have developed quality standard recommendations for the management of ALD, based on evidence and consensus expert opinion, with the aim of improving patient care.

Patients' experience of accessing support for tics from primary care in the UK: an online mixed-methods survey.

Background: Tics are common in children and young people and may persist into adulthood. Tics can cause challenges with social, occupational, physical, and academic functioning. The current study explores the perceptions of adults with tics and parents/carers of young people with tics regarding their experience of accessing support from professionals in primary care in the UK.

Case report: Advice for schools on managing functional tic-like behaviours.

There has been an increase in the occurrence of sudden onset functional tic-like behaviours in adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic, which has had a significant impact on the affected individual's ability to engage with education. The aim of this article is to generate discussion and inform practice within schools with regard to the management of functional tic-like behaviours. An advice sheet for schools has been produced based on clinical expertise and experience of consulting with schools around the management within education settings.

Diagnosis and Management of Functional Tic-Like Phenomena.

Over the past 3 years, a global phenomenon has emerged characterized by the sudden onset and frequently rapid escalation of tics and tic-like movements and phonations. These symptoms have occurred not only in youth known to have tics or Tourette syndrome (TS), but also, and more notably, in youth with no prior history of tics. The Tourette Association of America (TAA) convened an international, multidisciplinary working group to better understand this apparent presentation of functional neurological disorder (FND) and its relationship to TS.

"I'm in pain and I want help": An online survey investigating the experiences of tic-related pain and use of pain management techniques in people with tics and tic disorders.

Objectives: Tic disorders (TDs) are complex neurological conditions characterized by involuntary, persistent vocalizations and motor movements called tics. Tics involve brief muscle movements and can impair many aspects of daily functioning and quality of life in patients - and their physical nature can cause pain. Understanding individuals' experiences of tic-related pain and pain management could help explore this under-researched area and identify additional support needs for this population.

Distinguishing and Managing Acute-Onset Complex Tic-like Behaviors in Adolescence.

Consistent with international reports, this group of Tourette syndrome (TS) experts has noticed a recent increase in adolescents presenting with tic-like symptoms that show a markedly atypical onset and course. These sudden-onset motor movements and vocalizations are often associated with significant impairment and disability, resulting in emergency department visits and hospitalizations for some affected youths.

European clinical guidelines for Tourette Syndrome and other tic disorders: patients' perspectives on research and treatment.

The formation of a new umbrella organisation called Tics and Tourette Across the Globe (TTAG) representing Tic and Tourette Syndrome (TS) patient associations around the world has led to a clearer voice for patients with Tourette Syndrome (TS). An opportunity has been created for this group to bridge research, clinical work and shared decision-making between researchers, clinicians and patients across Europe, with the result of improving the treatment and management of TS. A survey was sent out to capture the patients' perspective on research and treatment, and 2269 participants responded.

Easing the transition to secondary education for children with autism spectrum disorder: An evaluation of the Systemic Transition in Education Programme for Autism Spectrum Disorder (STEP-ASD).

In mainstream education, the transition from primary to secondary school ('school transition') is difficult for children with autism spectrum disorder, being marked by high levels of emotional and behavioural difficulties. The Systemic Transition in Education Programme for Autism Spectrum Disorder (STEP-ASD) is a new, manualised school transition intervention. We investigated its feasibility and efficacy for children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (N = 37; mean age = 11.

The transition from primary to secondary school in mainstream education for children with autism spectrum disorder.

The transition from primary to secondary education (hereafter 'school transition') is a major ecological shift that poses considerable social, emotional, academic and organisational challenges. It is commonly assumed that this school transition is especially difficult for children with autism spectrum disorder, but that idea is mainly based on anecdotal evidence and requires systematic investigation. We describe change and continuity for children with autism spectrum disorder (N = 28, mean age = 11.

Quantifying the RR of harm to self and others from substance misuse: results from a survey of clinical experts across Scotland.

Objective: To produce an expert consensus hierarchy of harm to self and others from legal and illegal substance use.

Design: Structured questionnaire with nine scored categories of harm for 19 different commonly used substances.

Setting/participants: 292 clinical experts from across Scotland.

Experience of an Inter-regional Research Symposium for Higher Psychiatric Trainees in Scotland.

Objectives: We present our experience of an annual research symposium for psychiatric trainees in Scotland. This paper aimed to consider trainees' involvement in research by examining firstly rates of publication and secondly the views of trainees.

Methods: A list of all presentations to the Senior Trainees' Annual Research Symposium (STARS) meetings 2007-2009 was compiled and a detailed search made of major research databases.

White matter integrity in individuals at high genetic risk of bipolar disorder.

Background: Bipolar disorder is a familial psychiatric disorder associated with reduced white matter integrity, but it is not clear whether such abnormalities are present in young unaffected relatives and, if so, whether they have behavioral correlates. We investigated with whole brain diffusion tensor imaging whether increased genetic risk for bipolar disorder is associated with reductions in white matter integrity and whether these reductions are associated with cyclothymic temperament.

Methods: Diffusion tensor imaging data of 117 healthy unaffected relatives of patients with bipolar disorder and 79 control subjects were acquired.

The seasonality of bipolar affective disorder: comparison with a primary care sample using the Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire.

Background: In contrast with recurrent unipolar depression, relatively little is known about the seasonality of depressive episodes in bipolar affective disorder (BAD).

Method: We compared responses on the Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire (SPAQ) between a cohort of 183 patients with BAD and a large sample of patients in primary care (N=4746). Comparisons were adjusted for age and gender.

Discrimination between attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and reactive attachment disorder in school aged children.

We aimed to determine whether it is possible to discriminate between children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and children with reactive attachment disorder (RAD) using standardized assessment tools for RAD. The study involved 107 children: 38 with a diagnosis of RAD and 30 with ADHD were recruited through community child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) and specialist ADHD clinics. In addition, 39 typically developing children were recruited through family practice.