Stereotypes about tourette syndrome and associations with social media use: results from a large-scale german population survey

Abstract Misunderstandings about tic disorders are common in both the media and the genreal public. However, no large-scale population-based study has investigated public knowledge and stereotypes about tic disorders. We conducted such a survey about knowledge and stereotypes about Gilles de la Tourette syndrome (GTS) in Germany in 2024. Among respondents who had heard about GTS ( n = 1,175, 16–88 years, M = 47.9 ± 16.3), 50% of knowledge items were answered correctly. A score summarizing stereotyping statements revealed an average agreement of 39%. The vast majority associated GTS with coprolalia (87%), copropraxia (75%) and – less frequently – with other symptoms that are atypical but frequently portrayed in the media, such as contextualized commentaries (50%) and destroying objects (29%). Subjects who knew someone with GTS had better knowledge than those who did not know anyone with GTS. Regression analyses revealed a significant association between the estimation of own knowledge on GTS as good and stereotypical beliefs. Social media use to get informed about psychiatric diseases was linked to more knowledge and less stereotypes, however, having watched a video depicting individuals with presumed GTS was associated with more stereotypes. Our study demonstrated overall poor knowledge and widespread stereotypes about GTS in Germans. Studies evaluating options for stigma reduction are needed to foster equality and prevent disadvantages for affected persons.