Sandeep Grover1, Ajit Avasthi1, Aakanksha Singh1, Amitava Dan2, Rajarishi Neogi3, Darpan Kaur4, Bhavesh Lakdawala5, Abhijit R Rozatkar6, Naresh Nebhinani7, Suravi Patra8, Priya Sivashankar9, Alka A Subramanyam10, Adarsh Tripathi11, Ab Majid Gania12, Gurvinder Pal Singh13, Prakash Behere14. 1. 1 Department of Psychiatry, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India. 2. 2 Calcutta National Medical College, Kolkata, India. 3. 3 Institute of Psychiatry, IPGMER, Kolkata, India. 4. 4 MGM Medical College, Navi Mumbai, India. 5. 5 GMERS Medical College, Gandhi Nagar, India. 6. 6 SHKM Government Medical College, Nalhar, India. 7. 7 AIIMS Jodhpur, Jodhpur, India. 8. 8 AIIMS Bhubaneswar, Bhubaneswar, India. 9. 9 Shri Balaji Medical College & Hospital, Chennai, India. 10. 10 Topiwala National Medical College and BYL Nair Charitable Hospital, Mumbai, India. 11. 11 King George's Medical University, Lucknow, India. 12. 12 SKIMS Medical College, Srinagar, India. 13. 13 Gian Sagar Medical College, Banur, India. 14. 14 D. Y. Patil Education Society (Deemed University), Kolhapur, India.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Stigma is very common among caregivers of patients with severe mental disorder; however, there is lack of national level data from India. AIM: To assess affiliate stigma and its correlates among caregivers of patients with severe mental disorders. METHOD: For this, caregivers of patients with schizophrenia ( N = 707), bipolar disorder ( N = 344) and recurrent depressive disorder ( N = 352) were assessed on Stigma scale for Caregivers of People with Mental Illness and General Health Questionnaire. RESULTS: Caregivers of patients with schizophrenia reported significantly higher stigma than patients with bipolar disorder and recurrent depressive disorder. Caregiver of patients with bipolar disorder reported significantly greater stigma than the caregivers of patients with recurrent depressive disorder. Higher caregiver stigma in all the diagnostic groups was associated with higher psychological morbidity in caregivers. Higher stigma in caregivers of schizophrenia was seen when the patient had younger age of onset and longer duration of treatment. In the bipolar disorder group, higher stigma in caregivers was seen when patient had higher residual manic symptoms. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that caregivers of patients with schizophrenia experience higher stigma than the caregivers of patients with bipolar disorder and recurrent depressive disorder. Higher stigma is associated with higher psychological morbidity in the caregivers. Therefore, the clinicians managing patients with severe mental disorders must focus on stigma and psychological distress among the caregivers and plan intervention strategies to reduce stigma.
BACKGROUND: Stigma is very common among caregivers of patients with severe mental disorder; however, there is lack of national level data from India. AIM: To assess affiliate stigma and its correlates among caregivers of patients with severe mental disorders. METHOD: For this, caregivers of patients with schizophrenia ( N = 707), bipolar disorder ( N = 344) and recurrent depressive disorder ( N = 352) were assessed on Stigma scale for Caregivers of People with Mental Illness and General Health Questionnaire. RESULTS: Caregivers of patients with schizophrenia reported significantly higher stigma than patients with bipolar disorder and recurrent depressive disorder. Caregiver of patients with bipolar disorder reported significantly greater stigma than the caregivers of patients with recurrent depressive disorder. Higher caregiver stigma in all the diagnostic groups was associated with higher psychological morbidity in caregivers. Higher stigma in caregivers of schizophrenia was seen when the patient had younger age of onset and longer duration of treatment. In the bipolar disorder group, higher stigma in caregivers was seen when patient had higher residual manic symptoms. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that caregivers of patients with schizophrenia experience higher stigma than the caregivers of patients with bipolar disorder and recurrent depressive disorder. Higher stigma is associated with higher psychological morbidity in the caregivers. Therefore, the clinicians managing patients with severe mental disorders must focus on stigma and psychological distress among the caregivers and plan intervention strategies to reduce stigma.
Authors: Maria Moudatsou; Sofia Koukouli; Eleutheria Palioka; Garyfalia Pattakou; Panagiota Teleme; Georgia Fasoi; Evridiki Kaba; Areti Stavropoulou Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-03-14 Impact factor: 3.390