Effect of stigmatization on functional recovery in patients with schizophrenia

Aim: This cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the effect of stigma on functional recovery in patients with schizophrenia. Material and Method: The study was carried out between September 2016 and June 2017. The study population consisted of 4000 patients with schizophrenia registered in the outpatient clinic of the Mental Health Hospital in the Province of Elazıg, Turkey. As a result of the power analysis performed, the sample size of the study that reflect population was determined to be 250 patients, with a 0.95 test power, 0.08 degree of impact, and 0.05 error level. Patients were selected with the simple random sampling method. Patient Information Form, Functional Recovery Scale in Schizophrenia (FRSS) and Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness (ISMI) Scale were used for data collection. Percentage distribution, arithmetic mean, standard deviation, independent samples t-test, Mann Whitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis, ANOVA and correlation analysis were used in the evaluation of the data. Results: It was determined that the mean FRSS sub-scale and total scores of the patients participating in the study were low. The mean ISMIS sub-scale and total scores of the patients were high. There was a statistically significant negative relationship between FRSS mean sub-scale and total scores and mean ISMIS sub-scale and total scores of the patients (p<0.05). Conclusion: It was found that the level of stigmatization was high and the level of functional recovery was low patients with schizophrenia. It was revealed in the patients that the level of functional recovery decreases as the level of stigmatization increases. It may be advisable to provide training to healthcare professionals in order to reduce the level of stigmatization and increase the level of functional recovery in patients with schizophrenia. Keywords: Functional Recovery, Schizophrenia, Stigmatization