Dr. Barbara Coffey’s UHealth Tics, OCD and Related Problems Program Designated a TAA Center of Excellence e are thrilled to report that our UHealth Tics, OCD and Related Problems Program in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences has officially received the prestigious designation of a Tourette Association of America Center of Excellence! Barbara Coffey, MD MS, Division Chief of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Director of the Program says, “We are absolutely delighted to be honored with this designation from the TAA!! The new Center of Excellence will draw upon our University-wide strengths and resources in clinical, educational and research domains across the Departments of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Psychology, Pediatrics and Neurology. Our team is looking forward to serving our community's youth, families and adults who have been impacted by tic disorders and Tourette syndrome.” The designation is significant because it recognizes medical institutions that offer
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1 160 children between the ages of 5 and 17 out of every
in the United States has TS and
1 100 children has TS or another out of every
Tic Disorder
It’s not clear what causes TS; the conditions are hereditary so genetics plays a role. Environmental, developmental or other factors may also contribute, but currently, no specific event has been identified as the cause. https://www.tourette.org/abouttourette/overview/ https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/tourette/facts.html
the highest level of care, are undertaking groundbreaking research, are leaders in training and education and/or provide exceptional community outreach and advocacy for Tourette syndrome and other Tic Disorders.1 Dr. Coffey has worked tirelessly to establish a flagship tics & Tourette’s program at UM. Through collaborations with colleagues in several other departments, as well as the Tourette Association of America, we couldn’t be prouder to join the other Centers of Excellence across the country to address the needs and concerns in the critical areas of: expert and coordinated care, research, training and education, community outreach and advocacy awareness. The UHealth Tics, OCD and Related Problems Program is comprised of a multidisciplinary team of pediatric and adult health care providers, including psychiatrists, psychologists, and neurologists. Centered within the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, the program provides comprehensive evaluation and treatment of individuals of all ages with tic disorders, Tourette Syndrome, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and related disorders such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), mood and anxiety disorders, Autism Spectrum Tics are involuntary, repetitive movements and vocalizations. They are the defining feature of a group of childhood-onset, neurodevelopmental conditions known collectively as Tic Disorders and known individually as Tourette Syndrome, Persistent Chronic Tic Disorder, and Provisional Tic Disorder. l Boys are three to five times more likely
to have TS than girls. l People from all racial and ethnic groups can have TS but non-Hispanic white children are twice as likely to have a TS diagnosis as Hispanic and non-Hispanic black children. l Children 12–17 years of age are twice as likely to be diagnosed with TS as children 6-11 years of age.
Dr. Barbara Coffey was recently awarded the 2019 Virginia Q. Anthony Outstanding Woman Leader Award from the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry! The award recognizes her exemplary career and contributions to the mental health field as a child and adolescent psychiatrist. Dr. Coffey will be honored at a meeting in Chicago in October.
Disorder (ASD) and learning disorders. Dr. Coffey is currently accepting referrals of individuals of all ages. For more information on the program, please click here or email mxc1668@med.miami.edu. 1. https://tourette.org/about-tourette/overview/ centers-of-excellence/
Motor tics: tics that cause a movement Vocal/phonic tics: tics that produce a sound l Among children diagnosed
with TS, 86% also have been diagnosed with at least one additional mental, behavioral, or developmental condition, such as: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), OCD, anxiety, depression, autism spectrum disorder, and learning disabilities.
3 | BrainStorms | Q2 | 2019
