Stigma of taking psychiatric medications among psychiatric outpatient veterans

Service members and veterans underutilize mental health services due to stigma. The study investigated stigma of taking psychiatric medications, and its relationship to internalized stigma of mental illness, gender, age, service era, duration of taking medications, and their perceived helpfulness.

Of the 200 veterans completing an anonymous questionnaire in an outpatient mental health waiting room, data are presented on the 159 who reported taking psychiatric medications.

Medication stigma was related to internalized stigma and was common: over one half reported feeling uncomfortable disclosing or feeling judged, and about one fifth reported feeling embarrassed. Medication stigma was not related to gender, duration, or helpfulness. Younger age was associated with feeling judged, and more recent service era was associated with shame.

Medication stigma among veterans is common and warrants further study. Discomfort disclosing and feeling judged might be particularly worthy targets of discussion in shared decisions about medication.