The Effect of Internalized Stigma on the Adherence to Treatment in Patients With Schizophrenia

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Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the effect of internalized stigma on the adherence to the treatment of patients with schizophrenia. The population of the study consisted of patients who were diagnosed with schizophrenia according to the DSM IV diagnostic criteria and compatible with the study criteria. The study was completed with 63 patients overall. The researcher used Demographics Questionnaire, Morisky Medication Adherence Scale, Drug Attitude Inventory and Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Scale to gather data. Among the patients, 11.1% adhered to the treatment, and 54.0% did not. The mean score for the internalized stigma level of patients was 76.39 ± 14.30. A positive significant relationship was found among the scales (p < 0.05). The level of internalized stigma of patients with schizophrenia was determined to be high, and the internalized stigma had a negative impact on the adherence and attitude toward the treatment.

Section snippets

Design

Population of this descriptive study constituted patients with schizophrenia who consult Psychiatry Clinics of Ataturk University, Yakutiye Medical Research Hospital, and Erzurum Regional Training and Research Hospital. All patients meeting the study inclusion criteria were enrolled without using any specific sampling method. The final study sample comprised 63 patients that met the study inclusion criteria and accepted to participate in the study. Dependent variables were internalized stigma,

Results

Sixty-three patients diagnosed with schizophrenia (47 men and 16 women) participated in the study. The average age of the patients was 38.11 ± 9.57, and the duration of the disease was 14:58 ± 9:07. Among the patients, 74.6% were male, 55.6% were primary school graduates, 73.0% were unemployed, 61.9% were single, 90.5% were living with their families, 61.5% had been forced to quit work because of the disease, and 85.7% had social security (Table 1).

The total mean score of the internalized stigma of

Discussion

This study examined the moderating effect of internalized stigma on the adherence to treatment of individuals with schizophrenia. The mean internalized stigma total score of patients 76.39 ± 14.3. Considering the mean scores of this scale, this value suggests high levels of internalized stigma in patients. In a study conducted in Turkey, the mean of the internalized stigma score was found to be high in patients with psychosis (Sevindik, Özer, Kolat, & Önem, 2014). In another study, a high level

Suggestions

The significance of this study is that it presents the clear interrelationship between the adherence to treatment of people with schizophrenia and internalized stigma, and it shows that stereotype endorsement is the most affected subscale of the internalized stigma scale of patients. The study conducted in Turkey specifically shows the importance of stereotype endorsement. In particular, we want to highlight the importance of raising awareness of stereotype endorsement both externally and

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