title: Stigma of taking psychiatric medications among psychiatric outpatient veterans.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Service members and veterans underutilize mental health services due to stigma. The study investigated stigma of taking psychiatric medications, and its relationship to internalized stigma of mental illness, gender, age, service era, duration of taking medications, and their perceived helpfulness.
  
  
  METHODS
  Of the 200 veterans completing an anonymous questionnaire in an outpatient mental health waiting room, data are presented on the 159 who reported taking psychiatric medications.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Medication stigma was related to internalized stigma and was common: over one half reported feeling uncomfortable disclosing or feeling judged, and about one fifth reported feeling embarrassed. Medication stigma was not related to gender, duration, or helpfulness. Younger age was associated with feeling judged, and more recent service era was associated with shame.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Medication stigma among veterans is common and warrants further study. Discomfort disclosing and feeling judged might be particularly worthy targets of discussion in shared decisions about medication.
authors.affiliation: Mental Health Service.
authors.forename: Jennifer E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Boyd
authors.affiliation: Mental Health Service.
authors.forename: Josephine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Juanamarga
authors.affiliation: Mental Health Service.
authors.forename: Parisa
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hashemi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018692:Antimanic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010045:Outpatients / Q000523:psychology; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012650:Self Disclosure; D012752:Shame; D057545:Social Stigma; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology*
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D018692:Antimanic Agents; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs