›› 2011, Vol. 31 ›› Issue (11): 1527-.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1674-8115.2011.11.005

• Monographic report (Bipolar disorder) • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Self-stigma in patients with mood disorders and its related factors

WU Zhi-guo, YUAN Cheng-mei, WANG Zhen, HUANG Jia, LI Ze-zhi, WANG Yong, ZHANG Chen, FANG Yi-ru   

  1. Department of Mood Disorder, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200030, China
  • Online:2011-11-28 Published:2011-11-29
  • Supported by:

    National Natural Science Foundation of China, 30971047；National High Technology Research and Development Program of China, “863” Program, 2006AA02Z430；Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine Foundation, 2008-6；Shanghai Municipal Health Bureau Foundation, 08GWQ075, 2007Y14

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Abstract:

Objective To investigate the level of self-stigma in patients with mood disorders and its related factors. Methods Self-stigma in 446 patients with mood disorders was evaluated using Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness scale (ISMI), and levels of self-stigma were compared among patients with different sociodemographic or clinical features. Spearman correlation analysis was conducted between self-stigma and clinical variables in 384 patients with depressive episode. Results Self-stigma existed in 72.9% of patients, and moderate to severe self-stigma accounted for 24.2%. The percent of patients with stigma resistance was the highest (79.6%), and the percent of patients with discrimination experience was the lowest (41.0%). Male patients had higher scores of stereotype endorsement, discrimination experience and social withdrawal subscale than female patients (P<0.05). Employed patients had lower score of discrimination experience subscale than the unemployed (P<0.05). Patients with higher education had lower ISMI total score, as well as lower alienation, stereotype endorsement, discrimination experience and social withdrawal subscale scores than those with lower education (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in ISMI total score between patients with major depressive disorder and those with bipolar disorders (P>0.05). ISMI total score and alienation, stereotype endorsement, social withdrawal and stigma resistance subscale scores of unrecovered patients were significantly higher than those of the recovered (P<0.05). Age and depression severity (total score of 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression) were positively associated with ISMI total score (r=0.168, P<0.01; r=0.300, P<0.01), and education experience was negatively associated with ISMI total score (r=－0.178, P＜0.01) in patients with depressive episode. Conclusion Self-stigma and high stigma resistance are common in patients with mood disorders. Self-stigma of patients with certain sociodemographic and clinical features should be attached great importance and assessed cautiously and comprehensively. Efforts on helping patients to enhance their ability to resist stigma should be strengthened.

Key words: mood disorders, self-stigma, stigma resistance