title: VISIT-TS: A multimedia tool for population studies on tic disorders.
abstract: Population-based assessment of Tourette syndrome (TS) and other tic disorders produces a paradox. On one hand, ideally diagnosis of tic disorders requires expert observation. In fact, diagnostic criteria for TS explicitly require expert assessment of tics for a definite diagnosis. On the other hand, large-scale population surveys with expert assessment of every subject are impracticable. True, several published studies have successfully used expert assessment to find tic prevalence in a representative population (e.g. all students in a school district). However, extending these studies to larger populations is daunting. We created a multimedia tool to demonstrate tics to a lay audience, discuss their defining and common attributes, and address features that differentiate tics from other movements and vocalizations. A first version was modified to improve clarity and to include a more diverse group in terms of age and ethnicity. The result is a tool intended for epidemiological research. It may also provide additional benefits, such as more representative minority recruitment for other TS studies and increased community awareness of TS.
authors.affiliation: College of Arts and Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis, University City, USA.
authors.forename: M Jonathan
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Vachon
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Colleges of Medicine and Public Health & Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, USA.
authors.forename: Catherine W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Striley
authors.affiliation: Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, USA.
authors.forename: Mollie R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Gordon
authors.affiliation: Private Practice, St. Louis, USA.
authors.forename: Miriam L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Schroeder
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, USA.
authors.forename: Emily C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Bihun
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, USA.
authors.forename: Jonathan M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Koller
authors.affiliation: Departments of Psychiatry, Neurology, Radiology, and Neuroscience, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, USA.
authors.forename: Kevin J
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-6921-9567
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Black
keywords: Tourette syndrome; epidemiology; method; prevalence; video recording; video-audio media