title: Self-stigma as a barrier to recovery: a longitudinal study.
abstract: Stigma limits life opportunities of persons with mental illness. Self-stigma, the internalization of negative stereotypes, undermines empowerment and could hinder recovery. Here we examined self-stigma's effect on recovery among 222 disability pensioners with mental illness over 2 years, controlling for age, gender, symptoms and recovery at baseline measured by the Recovery Assessment Scale. More self-stigma at baseline was associated with a significant decrease in recovery after 1 year (not significant after 2 years). An increase of self-stigma from baseline to follow-up predicted less recovery 1 and 2 years later. Interventions that reduce self-stigma could therefore improve recovery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry II, University of Ulm and BKH Günzburg, Parkstrasse 11, 89073, Ulm, Germany. nathalie.oexle@uni-ulm.de.
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Oexle
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Wolfram
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kawohl
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry II, University of Ulm and BKH Günzburg, Parkstrasse 11, 89073, Ulm, Germany.
authors.forename: Ziyan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Viering
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wyss
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vetter
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry II, University of Ulm and BKH Günzburg, Parkstrasse 11, 89073, Ulm, Germany.
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rüsch
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008875:Middle Aged; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology*; D012649:Self Concept; D012737:Sex Factors; D057545:Social Stigma; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013557:Switzerland; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Mental illness; Recovery; Self-stigma