Experienced and anticipated discrimination among people with major depressive disorder in Serbia

Experiences of discrimination have significant impact on the lives of people with mental illness.

This study investigates the nature and severity of experienced and anticipated discrimination reported by persons with a depressive disorder in Serbia.

Patients were recruited from two psychiatric day hospitals and a primary mental health service with a diagnosis of major depressive disorder. Interviews were conducted using a socio-demographic questionnaire and the Discrimination and Stigma Scale.

The respondents experienced discrimination mostly in the field of family relationships, making and keeping friends and keeping a job. In domains of making close personal relationships or applying for education, anticipated discrimination was higher than experienced. The need to conceal mental health problems was stronger than experiences of being avoided. The need to hide mental health problems was higher than the overall score for experienced discrimination. Participants who were hospitalized in some period of life reported higher experienced discrimination. Compared to younger participants, older participants experienced more negative as well as positive discrimination. Married participants experienced more negative discrimination than unmarried.

It is important to design interventions to overcome discrimination toward persons with depression at all levels.