Internalized stigma and associated variables in depressive disorder patients that refer to Psychiatry Clinic of Celal Bayar University

Objective: In this study, our aim is to investigate the relationship between symptom severity and characteristics of disease, presence of comorbid anxiety, sociodemographic variables and self esteem in depressive disorder with internalized stigma. In Turkey, there is not any study about the relationship between levels of internalized stigma with the severity of depression in people with depressive disorders. This study will contribute to the literature deficiency in our country and set an example for other studies.Methods: Patients, refered to Celal Bayar University Psychiatry Unit at the date of 05.01.2012-05.03.2012, diagnosed with depressive disorder according to DSM-IV-TR diagnose criterias and were voluntary for were included to the study. Aim of the study was explained to the patients. Written and spoken informed consents were taken. First of all, SCID-I (SCIDCV) interviews were made to patient group and diagnosed according to DSM-IV. Then, sociodemographic data form and psychiatric disorder data form were applied. Hamilton Anxiety Scale, Hamilton Depression Scale were applied by the interviewer. İnternalized Stigma of Mental İllness Scale, The Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale and Beck Depression İnventory were applied by self reporting.Results: There was not any significant difference between sociodemographic variables and internalized stigma. There was significant differance in internalized stigma up to the person lives in city or town/village ( t= -3.639, p=0.001). Quitting from work because of psychiatric disorder was associated with significantly differance in internalized stigma (z= -2.313, p=0.021); Breakdown in friendships because of psychiatric disorder was found to be associated with significantly in internalized stigma (z= -2.824, p=0.005); Hiding psychiatric disorder was found to be associated with significantly in internalized stigma (t=2.343,p=0.022) ; hiding psiychiatric treatment was associated with significantly differance in internalized stigma (t=3.323, p=0.001). People with major depression?s internalized stigma was significantly higher of those with depressive disorder not otherwise specified(z= -3.167, p=0.002). People in major depression epizode?s internalized stigma was significantly higher of those not in the epizode (t=6.486,p<0.001) . HAM-D and BDE scales and internalized stigma were significantly associated. There was a negative significant correlation between self-esteem and internalied stigma(p=< 0.001).Conclusions: İn conclusion, most of the sociodemographic variables do not associated internalized stigma.Perceptions of current discrimination do not have to predict higher internalized stigma. İnternalized stigma is associated with higher depression semptom severity, anxiety level and lower self-esteem. Reduced self-esteem is a known consequence of higher internalized stigma. Since this is a cross-sectional study we can not draw causal inferences between depression and self-esteem. But as we know from the current studies there is bidirectional relationship between depression and internalized stigma; between internalized stigma and self-esteem. İnternalizd stigma affects many domains in the lives of people with mental illnesses. İnternalized stigma worsens self-esteem, social relationships, treatment adherence, seek help for treatment and causes delay in the mental illness treatment. İnternalized stigma is more usefull and malleable while monitoring a person?s clinic than public stigma or perceived stigma. Treatment approaches that focus on reducing internalized stigma may be able to reverse the negative outcomes of this concept.