Investigation Of The Stigma Among Outpatients With Major Psychosis And Their Family Members

Objective:to investigate the experience of stigma and internalized stigma among outpatients with major psychosis and their family members, explore the relevant factors of their stigma.Methods:Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Inventory,Modified Consumer Experiences of Stigma Questionnaire and Demographic Characteristics were used to assess the outpatients who visited Chenzhou psychiatric hospital from October 2006 to April 2007.The patients meet with the CCMD-â…¢criteria of schizophrenia or mood disorder.129 outpatients and their family members were included in this study. SPSS11.5 software was used for statistical analysis.Results:1.70%patients agreed or strongly agreed "I feel out of place in the world because I have a mental illness"(mean:2.91).71% patients agreed or strongly agreed "I don't talk about myself much because I don't want to burden others with my mental illness"(mean: 2.80).77%patients disagreed or strongly disagreed "I can have a good, fulfilling life,despite my mental illness"(mean:2.98).62%family members agreed or strongly agreed "I feel out of place in the world because my family have a mental illness"(mean:2.77).63%family members agreed or strongly agreed "I don't talk about my family members much because I don't want to burden others with my family members' mental illness"(mean:2.68),60%family members agreed or strongly agreed "Living with mental illness has made me a tough survivor"(mean:2.69).2.Among 9 items in stigma subscale of Consumer Experiences of Stigma Questionnaire,the mean was higher than 2 in patients group(the highest mean was 2.77).There were 5 items' mean higher than 2 in family group(the highest mean was 2.98).Among the discrimination subscale of this questionnaire,there were 2 items' mean higher than 3 in patients group(the highest mean was 3.19),while in family group,only one item's mean reach to 3.87.3.There were significant differences in discrimination factor and social withdraw factor of Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Inventory between schizophrenic patients and mood disorder patients in the current study.In addition to,there were no statistical differences in the total scores and other subscale scores of Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Inventory and Modified Consumer Experiences of Stigma Questionnaire between the two groups.There were different in the total score,alienation factor,stereotype endorsement factor,discrimination factor and social withdrawal factor of Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Inventory between mentally ill patients and their family members.4.The current study indicated that there was negative correlation between the duration of illness and total scores of Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Inventory in mentally ill patients group.There was negative correlation between the hospitalizations and total scores of Modified Consumer Experiences of Stigma Questionnaire.There was different in total scores of Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Inventory between different levels of education in patients.The marital status of the patients and insight and income might have some impacts on the patients' stigma feeling.Conclusions:1.The mentally ill patients and their family members all have high level of stigma.2.The mentally ill patients and their family members have high frequency of stigma experiences.3.The mentally ill patients have higher level of stigma than their family members.There is no statistical difference in stigma between schizophrenic patients and patients with mood disorder.4.The stigma of mentally ill patients may negative correlate to the duration of disease and the hospitalizations.The marital status and educational level and insight and income have some contribution to the stigma of mentally ill patients.