Internalized Stigma in People With Mood Disorders: Predictors and Associated Factors.

To analyze the predictors of internalized stigma among people with mood disorders, we conducted an analytical observational cross-sectional study with 108 people with mood disorders in a public service setting in Sao Paulo, Brazil. We applied a sociodemographic and clinical questionnaire, the Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Scale, the Medication Adherence Scale, the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale-Anchored, and the Herth Hope Index. We analyzed the data using descriptive statistics, average comparison tests, a correlation test, and multiple linear regression. Internalized stigma was associated with symptomatology, history of aggressive behavior, psychiatric hospitalizations, suicide attempts, hopelessness, nonadherence to psychotropic medications, and unemployment. The predictors of internalized stigma were unemployment, more psychiatric symptoms, history of previous suicide attempts, and less hope. Clinical interventions and investigations for stigma reduction and psychosocial rehabilitation should incorporate the factors associated with self-stigma (aggressive behavior, history of psychiatric hospitalizations, suicide attempts, hopelessness, nonadherence to medication, and unemployment).

Estigma internalizado em pacientes com transtorno de humor e fatores associados / Internalized stigma in patients with mood disorder and associated factors

Nos transtornos de humor, o estigma internalizado (internalização de estereótipos depreciativos associados a uma condição) é desafiador e prejudicial para a reabilitação e qualidade de vida do indivíduo. O presente estudo tem como objetivo investigar o estigma internalizado e as associações entre essa variável e as variáveis sociodemográficas e clínicas, além da esperança e adesão ao tratamento entre pessoas com transtornos de humor. Este estudo com abordagem quantitativa foi realizado com uma amostra de conveniência de 108 pacientes com transtornos de humor, em tratamento em um Centro de Atenção Psicossocial no interior de São Paulo - Brasil. Na coleta de dados foram aplicados os instrumentos: ISMIBR para investigar o estigma internalizado; MAT para investigar a adesão ao tratamento, EEH para analisar a esperança; aplicação da BPRS-a para observar a sintomatologia dos pacientes, e um questionário com questões sociodemográficas e clínicas. Na análise de dados foram empregados testes de comparação de média, teste de correlação e regressão linear múltiplo. Neste estudo predominam mulheres, sem ensino superior, sem companheiro, sem trabalho. A maioria tinha transtorno afetivo bipolar, era aderente ao tratamento medicamentoso, referiu internações psiquiátricas e tentativas prévias de suicídio e negou episódios de heteroagressão. Na amostra investigada, maiores níveis de estigma estiveram associados à maior sintomatologia, menor nível de esperança, tentativas prévias de suicídio, histórico de comportamento agressivo, internações psiquiátricas, não adesão ao tratamento e não ter trabalho. No modelo de regressão linear múltiplo estiveram associadas ao estigma as variáveis trabalho, tentativas de suicídio, sintomas e esperança. Nesse estudo foram identificados fatores que podem conferir ao indivíduo maior vulnerabilidade ao estigma internalizado e que precisam ser cuidadosamente investigados e abordados em intervenções voltadas para a redução do estigma e à reabilitação psicossocial

In mood disorders, the internalized stigma (internalization of derogatory stereotypes associated with a condition) is challenging and detrimental to the individual's rehabilitation and quality of life. The present study aimed to investigate the internalized stigma and the associations between these variables and sociodemographic, clinical variables, as well as hope and adherence to treatment among people with mood disorders. This quantitative approach was carried out with a convenience sample of 108 patients with mood disorders undergoing treatment at a Psychosocial Care Center in the interior of São Paulo - Brazil. In the data collection, the following instruments were applied: ISMI-BR to investigate internalized stigma; MAT to check adherence to treatment, EEH to examine the hope and application of BPRS-a to observe patient's symptomatology and a questionnaire with sociodemographic and clinical issues. In the data analysis, mean comparison, correlation test, and multiple linear regression tests were used. In this study, women predominated, without higher education, without a partner, without work. Most of them presented bipolar affective disorder, adhered to drug treatment, reported psychiatric hospitalizations and previous suicide attempts, and denied episodes of heteroaggression. In the sample investigated, higher levels of stigma were associated with greater symptomatology, lower level of hope, previous attempts of suicide, history of aggressive behavior, psychiatric hospitalizations, non-adherence to treatment and not having a job. In the multiple linear regression model, the variables labor, suicide attempts, symptoms, and hope were associated with the stigma. In this paper, were identified factors that may give the individual greater vulnerability to internalized stigma and which need to be carefully investigated and addressed in interventions or aiming at reducing stigma and psychosocial rehabilitation