Background: Internalized stigma negatively affects lives and prognosis of individuals with psychosis.

Aim: This study aimed to identify correlates of internalized stigma among individuals with psychosis in a sample of community care users in the Czech Republic.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 133 community service users with psychosis. A shortened version of the Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness (ISMI-10) scale was used alongside the 5-level EQ-5D version (EQ-5D-5L), assessing health-related quality of life. Descriptive and linear regression analyses were performed in order to determine levels of internalized stigma and its correlates.

Results: High levels of internalized stigma were reported in 25% of participants. Lower internalized stigma levels were associated with better self-reported health status and being married, and higher internalized stigma with a longer period of time since initial contact with psychiatric care.

Conclusion: Lower internalized stigma levels are associated with better self-reported health-related quality of life. In addition, clients having used psychiatric care for longer periods of time reported significantly higher internalized stigma levels. Therefore, authors suggest self-stigma reduction interventions based in a community setting with an emphasis on targeting clients with chronic psychosis.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0020764019850204DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

internalized stigma
40
stigma levels
16
stigma
10
internalized
9
correlates internalized
8
health-related quality
8
quality life
8
levels internalized
8
lower internalized
8
levels associated
8

Similar Publications

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!