Internalized stigma of psychiatric patients

Abstract

Objective  To study the level and associated factors of internalized stigma and self-esteemin psychiatric patients.           

Materials and methods  The sample was the outpatients at Somdet Chaopraya Institute of Psychiatry between October to November, 2014. The instrument consisted of a Thai version of Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Scale (ISMI) and the Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale. The data was analyzed by using descriptive statistics, t-test, Pearson correlation coefficients, and Multiple linear regression.                                   

Results  Among 390 patients, schizophrenia was mainly found together with a minimal level of internalized stigma. Factors correlated with high level of internalized stigma were a lower level of education, unemployment, and discrimination experiences in mental illness. People who have been diagnosed with schizophrenia, affective disorders and substance use disorders had significantly higher level of stigma than people with anxiety disorder. Internalized stigma was negatively associated with self- esteem.

Conclusion The internalized stigma level in psychiatric patients was minimal. There were six associated factors affected internalized stigma as follows: education level, being employed, receiving no income, psychiatric diagnosed, and discrimination experiences in three aspects. High internalized stigma score led to low self-esteem.