Using Online Support Communities for Tourette Syndrome and Tic Disorders: Online Survey of Users' Experiences.
Victoria PerkinsNeil S CoulsonE Bethan DaviesPublished in: Journal of medical Internet research (2020)
The findings suggest that online support communities appear to offer valuable informational and emotional support to those living with TS/TD and their families too, especially given the lack of locally available support. This facilitates a sense of community online, which can help users in overcoming long-standing social isolation and aid self-reported improvements in psychosocial well-being. Users reported some drawbacks in engaging with online support communities, such as conflict between different types of users and triggering content, which negatively affected experiences of community participation.