Social Isolation and Social Cognition in Adolescents with Tourette Syndrome

Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville TN

Investigators

Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY / ABSTRACT Candidate: Kelly Watson, PhD is Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurology and a clinical psychologist who provides a specialized, evidence-based behavioral therapy to adolescents with Tourette syndrome (TS). Dr. Watson strives to establish an independent program of patient-oriented research, with an emphasis in social and cognitive processes in TS. She earned her PhD in clinical psychological science from Vanderbilt University where she then completed her research-focused fellowship on an NIMH T32 training grant. In her early career, Dr. Watson has served as a co-I on extramural grants, was awarded an internal KL2 grant, and has co-authored numerous scientific publications. Her background demonstrates strong potential for a productive research career translating key findings into the development, evaluation, and dissemination of psychosocial interventions in TS. Research Project: TS is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by motor and vocal tics with a prevalence of 1% in adolescence. While current treatments focus on tic reduction, patients commonly report clinically distressing social problems. Yet, limited research in adolescence has focused on risk factors that contribute to social problems or examined the impact of these problems on social isolation. The aims of the proposed study are to: (1) quantify the prevalence of social isolation in TS adolescents; (2) assess explicit social cognition in TS adolescents; (3) apply eye-tracking techniques to assess implicit social cognition in TS adolescents; and (4) determine the contributions of social cognition to social problems in TS adolescents. Fifty adolescents with TS and 50 age- and sex-matched controls will be recruited, along with their parents, to complete a multi-method assessment battery. Results have the potential to inform psychosocial interventions to improve quality of life. Career Development: The training in this career development award will support Dr. Watson to achieve her goal of becoming an independently funded clinician scientist in TS focused on social and cognitive processes. Her goals include advanced training in: 1) social cognition, 2) eye-tracking methods, 3) longitudinal study design and analysis, and 4) professional development. She has developed a career development plan that includes coursework, workshops, webinars, conferences, and individualized training from an exceptional interdisciplinary mentorship team with expertise in cognitive neurology (Dr. Daniel Claassen), social cognition (Dr. Blythe Corbett), eye-tracking methodology (Dr. Alexandra Key), and quantitative methods (Dr. Kristopher Preacher). Environment: Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) is an optimal academic environment for cultivating Dr. Watson’s development into an independently funded clinician-investigator specializing in patient-centered research in TS. The institution has an exceptional track record for fostering productive and independently funded clinician-scientists. VUMC offers a wealth of resources to support this work, including a specialty clinic with a large population of adolescents with TS; VUMC is one of only 23 Tourette Association of America Centers of Excellence in the country and the first in Tennessee to receive this designation.