Misophenomena are group of conditions where specific sensory stimuli create intense feelings of anger/hatred within an individual. Their association with tic disorders has been a subject of interest and, for my SSC, I investigated the experiences of children with Tourette Syndrome (TS) in the ELCH Neurodevelopmental Movement Disorders (TANDeM) clinic who reported misokinesia phenomenon (distress caused by observation of specific movements). Semi-structured qualitative interviews demonstrated that observing specific movements can cause emotional distress, rage episodes and tic exacerbation in TS patients. We concluded that misokinesia may have an underappreciated influence on tic expression and general wellbeing and that assessment of misophenomena in such patients has clinical relevance.
This experience positively impacted my personal and professional development. Engaging directly with TS patients deepened my understanding of the challenges faced by those with neurodevelopmental conditions and their families. It increased my awareness of the importance of thorough social history taking and the broader context of patient care, which will be crucial in my future practice. In addition to expanding my clinical knowledge and understanding of interdisciplinary collaboration, the results of this work were presented at a European conference which improved my analytical skills, giving me the passion for research alongside clinical practice.
Nicola Claire Hood Memorial Award 