The British Journal of Psychiatry (2009) 195: 551-552. doi: 10.1192/bjp.bp.109.067157
© 2009 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
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SHORT REPORT

Self-stigma, group identification, perceived legitimacy of discrimination and mental health service use

Nicolas Rüsch, MD, Patrick W. Corrigan, PsyD, Abigail Wassel, BA, Patrick Michaels, BSc and Jonathon E. Larson, EdD

Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago

Manfred Olschewski, MSc

University of Freiburg, Germany

Sandra Wilkniss, PhD

Thresholds Institute, Chicago

Karen Batia, PhD

Heartland Alliance for Human Needs & Human Rights, Chicago, USA

Correspondence: Correspondence: Nicolas Rüsch, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Freiburg, Hauptstr. 5, 79104 Freiburg, Germany. Email: nicolas.ruesch{at}uniklinik-freiburg.de

Declaration of interest

None.

Stigma may interfere with mental health service use. We measured self-stigma and stigma-related cognitions (group identification and perceived legitimacy of discrimination) at baseline in 85 people with schizophrenia, schizoaffective or affective disorders. After 6 months, 75 (88%) had reported use of mental health services. Controlling for baseline psychopathology, perceived stigma and diagnosis, low perceived legitimacy of discrimination predicted use of counselling/psychotherapy. Strong group identification was associated with participation in mutual-help groups. More self-stigma predicted psychiatric hospitalisation. Cognitive indicators of stigma resilience may predict out-patient service use, whereas self-stigma may increase the risk of psychiatric hospitalisation.


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