Abstract
The identification of factors that prevent self-stigma and on the other hand promote stigma resistance are of importance in the long-term management of bipolar disorder. Accordingly, the aim of the current study was to investigate the association of factors deemed relevant in this context, i.e., resilience, premorbid functioning, and residual mood symptoms, with self-stigma/stigma resistance. Sixty patients diagnosed with bipolar I disorder were recruited from a specialized outpatient clinic. Self-stigma and stigma resistance were measured by the Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness (ISMI) Scale. The presence and severity of symptoms were assessed by the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) and the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS). Resilience and premorbid functioning were measured by the Resilience Scale (RS-25) and the Premorbid Adjustment Scale (PAS), respectively. Resilience correlated negatively with self-stigma and positively with stigma resistance and was a predictor for self-stigma/stigma resistance in multiple linear regression analysis. Residual depressive symptoms correlated positively with self-stigma and negatively with stigma resistance. There were no significant correlations between sociodemographic variables, premorbid functioning as well as residual manic symptoms and self-stigma/stigma resistance. The findings of this study implicate that resilience may be considered as an important component of self-stigma reduction interventions.
Highlights
Patients suffering from bipolar disorder (BD) may encounter many difficulties during the course of the illness that can have a negative impact on the outcome
Resilience may play a positive role in the degree of self-stigma a patient perceives and it may play a positive role in building stigma resistance, as we have recently shown in one of our recent studies investigating self-stigma in patients with schizophrenia [23]
Factors protecting from self-stigma and promoting stigma resistance in patients suffering from mental illnesses may be integrated in preventive and therapeutic interventions
Summary
Patients suffering from bipolar disorder (BD) may encounter many difficulties during the course of the illness that can have a negative impact on the outcome. Do they face challenges that are associated with the symptoms of the illness itself and side effects of treatment, but stigmatizing attitudes can play a negative role on the course of the illness. All these factors can lead to deprivation of factors which define quality of life such as pursuing a good job, living in a safe environment, having satisfactory health care, and having a wide spectrum of social contacts [1]. It is important to note that not all patients experiencing public stigma automatically
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