Unlabelled: Women with Tourette's syndrome (TS) continue to be under-researched, despite female sex being associated with increased tic-related impairment in adulthood. Existing literature indicates that individuals with TS are more likely than the general population to report self-stigma, but little is known about the subjective identities of women with TS and how this relates to psychological wellbeing. Semi-structured interviews were conducted via Zoom with a purposive sample of 11 females. All were diagnosed with TS and aged 18-28. Data was transcribed verbatim and thematic analysis applied. Five themes were established: "I'm not normal", "I just want to be me", I'm a "people pleaser", seeing oneself as an "outsider", and "it's just part of me…it's not going anywhere". Difficulties with self-acceptance and the autonomy to be one's true self were noted and appeared to be intensified by stereotypical gender roles and attempts to conceal tics. Findings also suggested that personal growth and feelings of mastery can be achieved through embracing TS as part of one's identity, or recognising it as just one aspect of the self. Psychological support focused on accepting and living with tics rather than reducing them may benefit this population and is currently difficult to access. Consideration should also be given to improving the availability of support groups where women with TS can meet others like themselves.
Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10882-023-09911-x.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10882-023-09911-x | DOI Listing |
Nat Commun
December 2024
Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
Gilles de la Tourette Syndrome (GTS) is a chronic tic disorder, characterized by unwanted motor actions and vocalizations. While brain stimulation techniques show promise in reducing tic severity, optimal target networks are not well-defined. Here, we leverage datasets from two independent deep brain stimulation (DBS) cohorts and a cohort of tic-inducing lesions to infer critical networks for treatment and occurrence of tics by mapping stimulation sites and lesions to a functional connectome derived from 1,000 healthy participants.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFStress during early life influences brain development and can affect social, motor, and emotional processes. We describe a striking sex difference in the effects of early life stress (ELS), which produces anhedonia and anxiety-like behaviors in female adolescent mice, as reported previously, but repetitive behavioral pathology and social deficits in male adolescent mice. Notably, this parallels sex differences seen in the prevalence of psychiatric symptoms: depression and anxiety disorders are more common in girls and women, whereas neurodevelopmental disorders like autism spectrum disorder and Tourette syndrome are markedly more common in boys and men.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMov Disord Clin Pract
November 2024
Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.
Background: Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over the supplementary motor area (SMA) has shown promise in Tourette syndrome (TS), but previous studies were limited in size and stimulation duration.
Objective: The aim was to explore the efficacy and safety of multiple sessions of cathodal tDCS over the bilateral SMA on tic severity in TS.
Methods: A double-blind, randomized, sham-controlled trial 1 mA cathodal tDCS over bilateral SMA was performed in participants with TS older than 16 years.
Clin Pediatr (Phila)
September 2024
Department of Pediatric Traditional Chinese Medicine Clinic, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou, China.
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