Self-stigma in PTSD: Prevalence and correlates

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Mental Health Research
• Clinical Psychology

Background:

• Self-stigma, the internalization of negative stereotypes, is well-documented in severe mental disorders.
• Its prevalence and impact in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) remain underexplored.
• Understanding self-stigma in PTSD is crucial for developing effective therapeutic strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess self-stigma in veterans diagnosed with PTSD.
• To compare self-stigma levels between veterans with PTSD and those with schizophrenia.
• To examine the associations between PTSD, depressive symptoms, and self-stigma in the PTSD cohort.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from two studies involving participants with PTSD (n=46) and schizophrenia-spectrum disorders (n=82).
• Administered the Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Scale (ISMIS) to all participants.
• Conducted comparative analyses between diagnostic groups and correlational analyses within the PTSD group.

Main Results:

• Veterans with schizophrenia reported higher experiences of discrimination than those with PTSD.
• No significant differences in other self-stigma subscales were found between the PTSD and schizophrenia groups.
• In the PTSD group, alienation correlated with PTSD and depressive symptoms; other subscales correlated only with depressive symptoms.

Conclusions:

• Veterans with PTSD exhibit significant levels of self-stigma.
• Self-stigma demonstrably affects PTSD symptomology and comorbid depressive symptoms.
• Future research should explore adapting existing self-stigma interventions for individuals with PTSD.