Stigma and disability in schizophrenia: developing countries' perspective.
BACKGROUND
Stigma and disability are two important consequences of schizophrenia that individuals afflicted with it experience. Sociocultural milieu can influence these. We review the literature on stigma and disability experienced by individuals with schizophrenia in the developing countries.


METHODS
We searched English-language literature from developing countries on stigma and disability in schizophrenia using PubMed and Scopus databases. As individual studies adopted widely varying methodologies, the retrieved papers did not yield themselves for a systematic review. We present a narrative review.


RESULTS
Much of the literature on stigma and disability in schizophrenia has come from India and only a few other developing countries. Stigma associated with schizophrenia is highly prevalent across regions and across patients themselves, families, communities and professionals. Research is scanty with regard to determinants of stigma and interventions against stigma. A number of tools have been developed for assessment of disability. Preliminary evidence suggests that initiation and continuation of antipsychotic medications is associated with lesser disability. Psychosocial interventions may reduce disability further.


CONCLUSIONS
Comprehensive, prospective studies evaluating the determinants of stigma and disability need to be conducted in the developing countries. Models of interventions to minimize these adverse consequences, developed based on their results, need to be tested.
Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore, India. jagatth@yahoo.com
Jagadisha
J
Thirthalli
Chennaveerachari Naveen
CN
Kumar
D001208:Asia / Q000208:ethnology; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003906:Developing Countries; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000208:ethnology*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D057545:Social Stigma