Characteristics, correlates and outcomes of perceived stigmatization in bipolar disorder patients

• The areas with most perceived stigmatization in bipolar disorder patients were work-ability and psychiatric hospitalization.
• A history of having received psychoeducation predicted lower levels of perceived stigmatization.
• Perceived stigmatization did not predict affected recurrences during the follow-up period.
• Anxious temperament, dysthymic temperament and irritable temperament were associated with different aspects of perceived stigmatization.

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to elucidate the characteristics, correlates and outcomes of perceived stigmatization in patients with Bipolar Disorder (BD).MethodsAt baseline 50 remitted BD patients completed the Stigma Questionnaire (SQ), the Work and Social Adjustment Scale (WSAS), and the Temperament Evaluation of the Memphis, Pisa, Paris and San Diego Auto-Questionnaire – Short Version (TEMPS-A). The BD patients were followed for 24 months as part of their ongoing treatment. Information on illness course and treatments was obtained at baseline and at follow-up through medical records and interviews.ResultsThe prevalence of perceived stigmatization ranged from 37% to 57% across the areas measured by the SQ. The areas with most perceived stigmatization were work-ability and psychiatric hospitalization. Psychoeducation and affective temperaments emerged as significant independent predictors of perceived stigmatization. Perceived stigmatization was not related to affective recurrences.LimitationsThe follow-up period might have been too short to measure the long-term impact of perceived stigmatization.ConclusionsThe findings suggest that BD patients consider issues concerning work-ability and psychiatric hospitalizations to be particularly affected by stigmatization. Psychoeducation and affective temperaments were, furthermore, identified as factors implicated in perceived stigmatization in this population.