Stigma and its Correlation in Patients with Schizophrenia

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Clinical Psychology
• Public Health

Background:

• Schizophrenia is a severe mental disorder associated with significant social stigma.
• Stigma negatively impacts patient functioning and quality of life.
• Understanding stigma prevalence and correlates in schizophrenia patients is crucial for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the prevalence and severity of stigma in patients diagnosed with schizophrenia.
• To explore the relationship between stigma and patient functioning.
• To investigate the association between illness knowledge and stigma levels.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study conducted at a tertiary referral government hospital.
• Inclusion of 60 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia using ICD-10 research diagnostic criteria.
• Statistical analysis of stigma severity, disclosure, positive stigma, and functioning levels.

Main Results:

• A significant proportion of schizophrenia patients experience moderate to severe stigma.
• Stigma severity was associated with lower levels of daily functioning.
• Higher levels of illness knowledge were linked to lower reported stigma.

Conclusions:

• Schizophrenia patients face substantial stigma, affecting their overall functioning.
• Interventions aimed at increasing illness knowledge may help reduce stigma.
• Further research is needed to develop effective anti-stigma strategies in clinical settings.