Revisiting stigma: Exposure to Tourette in an ordinary setting increases stigmatization

Abstract

Stigma toward people with mental disorders is frequently studied yet less is known about prejudice toward persons with tic disorders, especially sufferers of Gilles de la Tourette Syndrome (GTS). We examined stigmatizing attributions concerning a GTS patient in an online study with participants randomly assigned to one of two video clip conditions: the experimental group saw to a person with Tourette syndrome; the control group watched a nature scenic footage. Results revealed that participants in the experimental condition exhibited higher scores on a stigma questionnaire. Clinicians should be aware that GTS patients are prone to being stigmatized by general public.