tourette syndrome association
of new jersey, inc.
198 West High Street • Somerville,
New Jersey 08876
Phone 908-575-7350 • Fax 908-575-8699
Web Site: www.tsanj.org • e-mail: NJTSA@aol.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2005
TSANJ Launches the New Jersey Center for Tourette Syndrome
and Associated Disorders (NJCTS)
New Center Offers Hope for New Jersey Families
Dealing With Tourette Syndrome
SOMERVILLE, NJ - Faith Rice is all too familiar with some of the frustrations
experienced by families seeking answers, proper diagnosis and proper care for
someone with Tourette Syndrome (TS).
It took almost seven years from the time her son Kim first exhibited symptoms
until the time he finally began to receive treatment for his Tourette
Syndrome. They were bounced from family doctor... to pediatrician... to specialist...
even to family counseling before being properly diagnosed. It was a trying
and frustrating time for the entire family. For the most part, they were on
their own because nobody knew exactly what TS was, what to do, how to treat it, or
where to send her struggling child for help.
"I've heard hundreds of similar heartbreaking stories from those who seek
support from our helpline. I'm delighted that we are finally able to do
something so that other families in New Jersey won't have to go through the same kind
of frustrations," says Rice, who is now president of the Tourette Syndrome
Association of New Jersey, located in Somerville, NJ.
With funding from Special Child Health and Early Intervention Services, New
Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, TSANJ is collaborating with
UMDNJ Medical Schools and Rutgers University to create a New Jersey Center of
Excellence for the Treatment of Tourette Syndrome and Associated Disorders.
Psychiatrist Dr. Cathy L. Budman, a nationally recognized expert in Tourette
Syndrome, will serve as interim medical director of the program.
The New Jersey Center of Excellence will be patterned, in part, after
programs in other states such as the TS/OCD Clinic at the Yale University Child Study
Center in Connecticut, and the TS Program at Children's Hospital in
Philadelphia. The NJ Center will offer a much-needed diagnosis and treatment resource
for the thousands of New Jersey families with TS.
"The demand here is great, and specialists are at a shortage. Just getting an
appointment for diagnosis at one of the out-of-state centers can take up to a
year, and neither specifically serves the needs of adults with TS," Rice
adds. "Kids and adults who need help shouldn't have to wait a year. Even a month
is way too long."
Tourette Syndrome is an often misdiagnosed and misunderstood neurological
disorder that affects as many as 7,000 New Jersey residents, with thousands more
experiencing at least mild TS symptoms. Many people with TS also exhibit
symptoms of related neurological disorders, such as OCD (Obsessive Compulsive
Disorder), Rage Syndrome and ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder),
Depression and Learning Disabilities.
According to Rice, the New Jersey Center of Excellence will offer an innovative
and comprehensive approach for families with TS:
- Medical diagnosis and treatment
- Psychiatric and psychological services
- Educational testing services
- Coordinated patient care among partner and community organizations
throughout the state
- Educational training in UMDNJ medical schools and the Rutgers University
Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology to develop a new
generation of professionals knowledgeable about TS and
associated disorders
- Professional and educational training for practicing physicians and
educators and allied professionals
In addition to serving the medical and psychological needs of TS families,
the Center will become a recruitment resource for TS patients and families
willing to participate in controlled research studies into the causes and effective
treatments of TS and associated disorders.
"The goal is to create a Center here in New Jersey that can serve as a model
for the country, and help more people with TS more efficiently
and more successfully," claims Rice. "It's going to mean a
lot for the thousands of New Jersey families dealing with
Tourette Syndrome."
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For more information, contact Allan Gorman (973) 509 2728 or Faith Rice (908) 575 7350
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