Perceived Stigma in Patients with Autoimmune Hepatitis

Area of Science:

• Hepatology
• Psychology
• Public Health

Background:

• Perceived stigma (PS) negatively affects psychosocial and disease outcomes in chronic liver diseases (CLD).
• Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) patients may face PS due to misconceptions about disease origin.
• Understanding PS prevalence and correlates in AIH is crucial for patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the frequency of PS in patients diagnosed with AIH.
• To compare PS rates between AIH, primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), and general CLD populations.
• To identify demographic factors associated with PS in AIH patients.

Main Methods:

• Online questionnaires were administered to 262 adult AIH patients (95% female, mean age 51.53 years).
• Data collected included demographics, disease information, and perceived stigma levels.
• Statistical analyses examined PS frequency, comparative rates, and demographic correlations.

Main Results:

• 54-68% of AIH patients reported experiencing PS, often involving selective disclosure, non-disclosure, or hiding their diagnosis.
• PS rates were higher in AIH patients compared to PBC patients.
• PS was less prevalent in AIH patients than in patients with various other CLDs. Age showed an inverse relationship with PS.

Conclusions:

• A significant proportion of AIH patients experience PS, necessitating targeted interventions.
• Provider screening for PS and the integration of clinical health psychologists are recommended for AIH patient support.
• These interventions can help identify and manage PS, potentially improving psychosocial and disease outcomes.