Dynamic changes of self-stigma, quality of life, somatic complaints, and depression among people with schizophrenia: A pilot study applying kernel smoothers.

Abstract

The aims of this study are to verify this sequential structure and to determine if self-stigma is associated with lower quality of life (QoL) and depression. A total of 160 patients with schizophrenia participated in this study. Each completed the Self-Stigma Scale-Short Form (SSS-S), the World Health Organization (WHO) questionnaire on the Quality of Life, Brief Form (WHOQOL-BREF), and the Depression and Somatic Symptoms Scale (DSSS) instruments. Dynamic changes of the measures of self-stigma and related QoL were analyzed using a kernel-type smoother. The effects of self-stigma on QoL and depression were assessed using multiple regression models. The dynamic changes of self-stigma scores seem to support a sequential structure. The general pattern is elevated for around 12 months, exceeds 2.5 after 54 months, and reaches a peak of about 90 months after diagnosis of schizophrenia, then declines and appears to be stabilized later on. While the DSSS scores synchronize with those of self-stigma, those of the WHOQOL-BREF seem to show an opposite trend. Self-stigma appears to be a dominator for QoL and depression for people with schizophrenia. Patients with schizophrenia may develop self-stigma around 1 year after diagnosis. Early detection and management may improve patient QoL and minimize depression. However, the results of this pilot study should be interpreted with caution because of the cross-sectional design.

Using the Affiliate Stigma Scale with caregivers of people with dementia: psychometric evaluation

“…Thus, healthcare providers can use the Affiliate Stigma Scale to compare the affiliate stigma between caregivers of people with dementia and other mental disorders after its psychometric properties are established for caregivers of people with dementia. Third, the Affiliate Stigma Scale was designed on the basis of cognitive behavioral theory, and the mechanism of self-stigma was examined using empirical data [16]. …”

Comparing Self-stigma Between People With Different Mental Disorders in Taiwan

“…Internalized stigma is suggested to consist of three components, including stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination, that correspond to cognition, affect, and behavior, respectively (Lin et al, 2016). Therefore, the origin of the internalized stigma begins from the unfriendly environment, for example, the beliefs of public that people with mental illness are dangerous (Corrigan and Roe, 2012).…”

“…Consequently, people with mental illness may have unequal access to resources, such as education, living in a community, and quality healthcare (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2012). Moreover, they may also feel self-stigma (i.e., stigma directed at themselves or internalized stigma) that causes them profound psychological adversity, demoralization, feelings of hopelessness, lowered self-esteem and self-efficacy, poor quality of life, reduced adherence to psychiatric medication regimes, and others (Boyd et al, 2014;Corrigan et al, 2009;Huang and Lin, 2015;Lin et al, 2016).…”

The Mediation Role of Self-Esteem for Self-Stigma on Quality of Life for People With Schizophrenia: A Retrospectively Longitudinal Study

“…Self-stigma is one of the most important factors in an individual's SQoL (Lin, Chang, Wu, & Wang, 2016). Although several theories have been proposed to conceptualise self-stigma (Chang, Lin, Gronholm, & Wu, 2016;Corrigan, Watson, & Barr, 2006;Livingston & Boyd, 2010), there is a consensus of opinion that people with self-stigma have internalised a perceived stigma.…”

“…In a patient with mental illness, self-stigma tends to reduce his/her motivation to accept treatment (Fung, Tsang, & Corrigan, 2008;Tsang, Fung, & Chung, 2010). Studies have demonstrated a causal relationship between an individual's self-stigma and SQoL (Chan & Mak, 2014;Mashiach-Eizenberg, HassonOhayon, Yanos, Lysaker, & Roe, 2013;Lin et al, 2016); others have shown that self-stigma negatively affects the self-esteem of a person with a mental illness (Corrigan & Watson, 2002;Corrigan et al, 2006;Lysaker, Roe, Ringer, Gilmore, & Yanos, 2012). As self-esteem has been found to mediate between self-stigma and many health-related outcomes such as depression and impaired social functioning (Yanos, Roe, & Lysaker, 2010;Yanos, Roe, Markus, & Lysaker, 2008), it is not surprising that researchers have proposed an evidence-based model of self-esteem as a mediating factor between self-stigma and an individual's SQoL (Mashiach-Eizenberg et al, 2013).…”