Self-stigma of people with schizophrenia as predictor of their adherence to psychosocial treatment.
OBJECTIVE
Treatment non-adherence has frequently been noticed among people with schizophrenia. Self-stigma towards one's mental illness is believed to be a contributing factor undermining adherence. This study aimed at obtaining empirical support regarding the relationship between psychosocial treatment adherence and self-stigma. Other significant predictors of adherence to psychosocial interventions were to be identified.


METHODS
Eighty-six people with DSM IV diagnoses of schizophrenia were recruited from psychiatric hospitals and community settings in Hong Kong. Their level of stigma, self-esteem, self-efficacy, insight, psychosocial treatment adherence and demographic data were collected. Multiple regression was used to investigate the adjusted relationship between psychosocial treatment adherence and the selected independent variables.


RESULTS
Higher level of self-stigma, poorer current insight on the social consequences of having mental illness, and living with others were found to be significant predictors of poor psychosocial treatment attendance. Better self-esteem and current insight about the negative social consequences were significant predictors of better psychosocial treatment participation. Self-stigma and self-esteem exhibited the strongest contributions to psychosocial treatment adherence.


CONCLUSIONS
Self-stigmatization is associated with the level of treatment adherence among people with schizophrenia, and its negative effect was found to intensify along the self-stigmatization process. Further studies to enhance understanding of self-stigma and improve treatment adherence are suggested.
Department of Rehabilitation Sciences.
Kelvin M T
KMT
Fung
Department of Rehabilitation Sciences.
Hector W H
HWH
Tsang
Institute of Psychology.
Patrick W
PW
Corrigan
D000328:Adult; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012649:Self Concept; D013240:Stereotyping; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires