[Self-stigma and social support in patients with addiction problems]

Patients with a substance use disorder often experience self-stigma. Support of the environment seems to decrease self-stigma, but little is known about the relationship with experienced and desired social support.

To gain insight in the relationships between experienced social support, desired social support and self-stigma, and to examine whether the severity of the substance use disorder plays a role in these relationships.

83 outpatients with a substance use disorder completed the Social Support List and the Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness scale.

Pearson correlations showed relationships between desired social support, experienced social support and self-stigma, but a multiple regression revealed only a relationship between desired social support and self-stigma. The relationship between social support and self-stigma was also found among patients with low severe substance use disorders, but among patients with a severe substance use a relationship was found with the experienced social support.

Desired social support seems to be of more importance for self-stigma than experienced social support. However, among patients with high severe substance use disorders experienced social support seems to be more important.