OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine characteristics of internalized stigma and intimate relations in bipolar and schizophrenia patients and to compare characteristics of intimate relations in bipolar and schizophrenia patients with or without internalized stigma. METHOD: A total of 228 volunteers were included, 119 patients with bipolar disorder and 109 with schizophrenia. Schizophrenic and bipolar disorder patients were compared in terms of internalized stigma and intimate relations characteristics. Bipolar and schizophrenia patients with and without internalized stigma were compared in terms of characteristics of intimate relations. RESULTS: Internalized stigma was determined in one in three schizophrenia and one in five bipolar patients. Stigma resistance and relational esteem in intimate relations scores were higher in bipolar patients. Relational anxiety/fear of relationship, relational monitoring and external relational control scores were higher in schizophrenia patients with internalized stigma compared to those without, while their relational satisfaction, relational esteem and relational assertiveness scores were lower. Relational anxiety/fear of relationship and relational monitoring scores were higher in bipolar patients with internalized stigma compared to those without, while their relational satisfaction scores were lower. CONCLUSION: Internalized stigma in schizophrenia patients is a well-known subject that has been investigated previously. The results of our study are significant in terms of showing that internalized stigma is also frequent in bipolar disorder patients, and not solely in schizophrenia patients. Stigma resistance is higher in bipolar disorder patients. Internalized stigma is correlated with intimate relations in both bipolar and schizophrenia patients.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine characteristics of internalized stigma and intimate relations in bipolar and schizophreniapatients and to compare characteristics of intimate relations in bipolar and schizophreniapatients with or without internalized stigma. METHOD: A total of 228 volunteers were included, 119 patients with bipolar disorder and 109 with schizophrenia. Schizophrenic and bipolar disorderpatients were compared in terms of internalized stigma and intimate relations characteristics. Bipolar and schizophreniapatients with and without internalized stigma were compared in terms of characteristics of intimate relations. RESULTS: Internalized stigma was determined in one in three schizophrenia and one in five bipolarpatients. Stigma resistance and relational esteem in intimate relations scores were higher in bipolarpatients. Relational anxiety/fear of relationship, relational monitoring and external relational control scores were higher in schizophreniapatients with internalized stigma compared to those without, while their relational satisfaction, relational esteem and relational assertiveness scores were lower. Relational anxiety/fear of relationship and relational monitoring scores were higher in bipolarpatients with internalized stigma compared to those without, while their relational satisfaction scores were lower. CONCLUSION: Internalized stigma in schizophreniapatients is a well-known subject that has been investigated previously. The results of our study are significant in terms of showing that internalized stigma is also frequent in bipolar disorderpatients, and not solely in schizophreniapatients. Stigma resistance is higher in bipolar disorderpatients. Internalized stigma is correlated with intimate relations in both bipolar and schizophreniapatients.
Authors: J Dubreucq; J Plasse; F Gabayet; M Faraldo; O Blanc; I Chereau; S Cervello; G Couhet; C Demily; N Guillard-Bouhet; B Gouache; N Jaafari; G Legrand; E Legros-Lafarge; R Pommier; C Quilès; D Straub; H Verdoux; F Vignaga; C Massoubre; N Franck Journal: Eur Psychiatry Date: 2020-02-07 Impact factor: 5.361