title: Anticipated discrimination is related to symptom severity, functionality and quality of life in schizophrenia.
abstract: The aim of this study is to evaluate a possible relationship between the level of anticipated discrimination with severity of symptoms and functionality. We included 103 patients with schizophrenia. Severity of symptoms was measured by PANSS and Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia. Quality of life (QL) and functionality were measured by using QLS, PSP and Functional Remission of General Schizophrenia Scale (FROGS). Anticipated/experienced discrimination was evaluated with four selected items from Discrimination and Stigma Scale. First, variables related to each item were determined by using t-test and later the variables that have an independent contribution to anticipated discrimination subscale of DISC were evaluated with linear regression analysis. Results showed that those who stated that they felt the need to conceal their diagnosis more had shorter duration of illness, lower PANNS scores, higher scores on professional performance subscale of QLS, a lower number of suicide attempts and higher current employment rates. Participants who reported that they had been avoided or shunned more had higher depression scores. While patients with lower level of functionality tended to stop themselves more, patients with high level of functionality tended to conceal their diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul Millet Street, Capa 34390, Istanbul, Turkey. Electronic address: alpucok@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Alp
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Üçok
authors.forename: Gülşah
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Karadayı
authors.forename: Birgül
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Emiroğlu
authors.forename: Norman
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sartorius
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004192:Discrimination, Psychological / Q000502:physiology*; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D057545:Social Stigma; D013406:Suicide, Attempted; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Anticipated discrimination; Functionality; Quality of life; Schizophrenia; Stigma