Internalized stigmatization and quality of life in patients with bipolar disorders and schizophrenia

In this study we aimed to compare internalized stigmatization and quality of life between bipolar disorder and schizophrenia patients in remission. The patients who were admitted to psychiatry out patient clinic of Gaziantep University Medicine Faculty with the diagnosis of bipolar disorder or schizophrenia according to DSM-5 between February 2013 - August 2013. Assessment tools were Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Scale (ISMI) scaleand World Health Organization Quality of Life Measurement Instrument Short Form, Turkish Version (WHOQOL-Bref TR). Schizophrenia and bipolar disorder groups were compared according to ISMI and WHOQOL-Bref TR scales. Fifty eight bipolar disorder patients and 52 schizophrenia patients were included in thestudy. WHOQOL-Bref TR of bipolardisorder patients were found to be higher than patients with schizophrenia (p = 0.006). ISMI Scale of schizophrenia patients were found to be higher than patients with bipolar disorder (p = 0.001). ISMI was higher in female schizophrenia patients than female bipolar disorder patients (p = 0.006). WHOQOL-Bref TR was found to be higher in women with bipolar disorder (n = 33) than women with schizophrenia (n = 22) (p = 0.019). There was no significant differences between male schizophrenia patients and male bipolar disorder patients according to WHOQOL-Bref TR. Internalized stigmatization is a problem that should be considered in schizophreniapatients, especially in femaleschizophrenia. Internalizedstigmatizationmay be caused with decreased quality of life in schizophrenia. Although there is a difference between the groups, it is a fact that stigmatization is high in both groups. Inconclusion, internalized stigmatization should be considered in both patient groups.