title: Psychological Distress Increases Perceived Stigma Toward Attempted Suicide Among Those With a History of Past Attempted Suicide.
abstract: People who suffer from mental illness have high self-stigmatizing attitudes. This study aims to test the effect of psychopathological distress on stigma toward attempted suicide in a population of suicide attempters. Data were collected through an interview and 2 questionnaires (90-item Symptom Checklist; Stigma of Suicide Attempt scale) administered to 67 patients hospitalized after an attempted suicide. Participants with a history of past attempted suicide had higher scores on the Stigma of Suicide Attempt scale (t58.9 = -2.51, p = 0.014). Higher levels of psychological distress were related to greater perceived stigma only in individuals with a history of past attempted suicide (standardized coefficient = 0.37; t = 2.36; p = 0.024; R2 = 14%; adjusted R2 = 11.5%). A previous experience of attempted suicide is related to greater self-stigmatizing attitudes toward suicidal behavior. Among those who have previously attempted suicide in particular, psychopathological distress may significantly contribute to increase the perception of stigma.
authors.affiliation: *Mental Health Center, Padova, Italy; †Department of Health, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland; ‡Center of Liaison Psychiatry and Psychosomatics, University of Cagliari; and §Genneruxi Medical Center, Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Scocco
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Toffol
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Preti
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D057545:Social Stigma; D013240:Stereotyping; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology*; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult