title: Social stigmatization in patients with cranial and cervical dystonia.
abstract: Patients with cranial and cervical dystonia (CCD) suffer from visible involuntary facial, head, and neck movements. Therefore, the social appearance of patients with CCD may be seriously affected and self-perceived stigma can be a major source of disability. The present study investigated enacted social stigmatization of patients with CCD. In a pilot study, a semantic differential scale for assessment of stigma was constructed and validated. The final scale contained eight items representing personality traits to be rated on a seven-point scale (-3 negative extreme to 3 positive extreme). Short video sequences (15 seconds) of patients with various types of CCD and age- and sex-matched healthy controls were presented to a sample of 80 biology students (mean age, 19.8 +/- 2.3 years). Immediately after presentation of each video sequence, the students were asked to perform stigma ratings. Significant differences between CCD patients and controls were found on all eight items (P < 0.001 for each). CCD patients were rated as less accountable for their actions, less likeable, less trustworthy, less attractive, less self-confident, more odd and different, more reserved, and more piteous than controls. CCD patients are subject to serious prejudice and enacted stigmatization. There is a need for informing the public about the nature and symptoms of this disorder and a need to support patients to cope with stigmatization.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rinnerthaler
authors.forename: Joerg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mueller
authors.forename: Viktor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Weichbold
authors.forename: Gregor K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Wenning
authors.forename: Werner
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Poewe
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002605:Character; D020821:Dystonic Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D005149:Facial Expression; D005260:Female; D019416:Head Movements; D006801:Humans; D007600:Judgment; D008297:Male; D012929:Psychological Distance; D011639:Public Opinion; D012803:Sick Role; D012928:Social Desirability; D012963:Sociometric Techniques; D013240:Stereotyping; D014103:Torticollis / Q000523:psychology*; D014741:Video Recording