Internalized stigmatization and quality of life in schizophrenia and depression

Internalized Stigma is the devaluation, shame, secrecy and withdrawal triggered by applying negative stereotypes to oneself.Objects: To determine the differences in internalized stigmatization and quality of life between schizophrenia and depression patients and to determine the internalized stigmatization?s effects on the quality of life.Method: This cross-sectional study, has been made to schizophrenia and depression patients in remission who were admitted in the Akdeniz University Psychiatry Outpatient Clinic. Sample size was calculated as at least 85'er person for each disease group; (0.50 effect size, 90% power, with 95% confidence interval) 86 schizophrenic and 85 depressed patients who agreed with the interview were studied. Basic independent variable was type of the disease and dependent variables were Internalized stigmatization and Quality of Life. Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Scale and the World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale Short Form were used.Results: Internalized stigmatization scores were found to be different in both patient groups. Schizophrenia patients' mean scores are higher. In both patient groups, the quality of life subscale scores which were physical domain and social domain showed some differences while mental domain, environmental domain and national domain points showed no differences.In both patient groups, between the low, medium and high levels of internalized stigmatization, quality of life scores were found to be different in its whole five domains.Conclusion and recommendations: In this study it was found that those who had high internalized stigma points have worse quality of life. Psychiatric treatment and quality of life studies should consider the effects of stigmatization.