Perceived public stigma and perceived public exposure by persons living with bipolar disorder: A qualitative study

Abstract

Background: Stigma impact the lives of persons living with bipolar disorder. Aim: The aim of this study was to explore how perceived public stigma is described by people living with bipolar disorder and examine the links between perceived public stigma and perceived public exposure. Method: Face-to-face in-depth interviews were conducted in a purposive sample of euthymic people living with bipolar disorder recruited in a mood disorder ambulatory unit. Results: Thematic analysis of the transcript yielded five independent themes that were related to perceived public stigma. Perceived public stigma of bipolar disorder was modeled as comprising the three elements of public stigmas (stereotype, prejudice, and discrimination), with the addition of public exposure as a core component. Conclusion: The representation of bipolar disorder in society via newspapers, films/TV series, conferences, and celebrity self-disclosures is considered to have multiple impacts. People living with bipolar disorder have also reported a perceived public stigma of bipolar disorder that has both specific features and characteristics of general mental illness.

Stigma in people living with bipolar disorder and their families: a systematic review

“…The analysis of available studies revealed that many factors could effectively predict stigma in people living with bipolar disorders and their families, including social and cultural structures, inefficient welfare system, low education, unemployment or lack of a suitable job, low self-esteem, poor communication skills, lack of intimate relationships with others, lack of being understood by others, poor social support, collectivist cultures, young age at disease onset, recurrent hospitalizations, gender, disease severity, disease duration, discriminative labels, lack of information/knowledge, generalization, banalization and reaction induced by public stigma in the general population, or among professionals such as health care professionals and employers. This finding was consistent with the results of Bonnington, Clemente, Favre, Sadeghi, Engidaw, Shumet, Thome, Cerit, Sarisoy, Howland, Ellison, Nilsson and Pal (Bonnington & Rose 2014 ; Clemente et al 2017 ; Favre et al 2022 ; Sadeghi et al 2003 ; Engidaw et al 2020 ; Shumet et al 2021 ; Thomé et al 2012 ; Cerit et al 2012 ; Sarısoy et al 2013 ; Howland et al 2016 ; Ellison et al 2015 ; Nilsson et al 2016 ; Pal 2020 ).…”

A Commentary on Changes in Mental Illness Stigma Over 30 Years—Improvement, Persistence, or Deterioration? (Schomerus et al, 2022)

“…Public figures have disclosed their personal struggles with mental illness, different movies were made, different books were written, and social media also promoted ideas about mental illness. However, in a qualitative study, persons with BD reported that the effects of stigma remained and were experienced as more "insidious" after these attempts to create destigmatization via media or celebrities' disclosure of living with the condition (Favre et al, 2022).…”

The Current Quality of Web-Based Information on the Treatment of Bipolar Disorder: A Systematic Search

“…People living with BD often experience public stigma via newspapers, films/TV series, and celebrity self-disclosure [31]. In patients with BD, perceived stigma is as high as in people with schizophrenia [32], and is associated with worse medication adherence [32].…”