The Stigma subscale of the Consumer Experiences of Stigma Questionnaire (CESQ): a psychometric evaluation in Polish psychiatric patients.

Objective: There is a scarcity of well validated measures of the subjective experience of the stigma of mental illness. The aim of this paper was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Stigma subscale of the Consumer Experiences of Stigma Questionnaire (CESQ).

Methods: A secondary analysis of the data from two cross-sectional studies using the CESQ was conducted in order to assess the factor structure, internal consistency and concurrent validity of the Stigma subscale. Sample 1 included 373 diagnostically heterogeneous patients (65% had psychotic disorders) and Sample 2 included 136 patients with schizophrenia.

Results: Since none of the factor models of the original 9-item scale was satisfactory, it was shortened by removing two psychometrically weakest items. The abbreviated 7-item scale proved to be a one-dimensional instrument, with good estimates of internal consistency. Its concurrent validity was partly confirmed by demonstrating negative correlation with quality of life and positive correlations with self-rated psychopathological symptoms. However, contrary to theoretical expectations, the stigma score was not associated with global functioning and clinician-rated symptoms.

Conclusions: The psychometric properties of the Stigma subscale of the CESQ may be improved by shortening the instrument. Although the reliability and validity of the abbreviated version were partly established, further research is needed to explore in particular its test-retest reliability and concurrent validity.