Psychiatr Prax 2011; 38 - S01_2_RE
DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1277740

Self-stigma, empowerment and perceived discrimination among people with bipolar disorder or depression in 13 European countries: the GAMIAN-Europe study

E Brohan 1, D Gauci 2, N Sartorius 3, G Thornicroft 1
  • 1Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, UK
  • 2Global Alliance of Mental Illness Advocacy Networks – Europe, Brussels, Belgium
  • 3Association for the Improvement of Mental Health Programmes, Geneva, Switzerland

Background/Objectives: There is little information on the degree to which self-stigma is experienced by individuals with a diagnosis of depression or bipolar disorder across Europe. This study describes the levels of self-stigma, stigma resistance, empowerment and perceived discrimination reported in these groups.

Methods: Data were collected from 1,182 people with depression or bipolar disorder using a postal survey from members of national mental health non-governmental organisations.

Results: Over one fifth of participants (21.7%) reported moderate or high levels of self-stigma, 59.7% moderate or high stigma resistance, 63% moderate or high empowerment, and 71.6% moderate or high perceived discrimination. In a reduced multivariate model 27% of the variance in self-stigma scores was predicted by levels of empowerment, perceived discrimination, social contact, education and employment.

Discussion/Conclusions: These findings suggest that self-stigma occurs among approximately 1 in 5 people with depression or bipolar disorder in Europe. The tailoring of interventions to counteract (or fight against) the elements of self-stigma which are most problematic for the group, be they alienation, stereotype endorsement, social withdrawal or discrimination experience, may confer benefit to people with such disorders.

Funding: Unrestricted educational grants from Eli Lilly and Lundbeck. EB and GT receive support from the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) under its Programme Grants for Applied Research scheme (grant no. RP-PG-0606–1053). GT is also funded through a NIHR Specialist Mental Health Biomedical Research Centre at the Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London and the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust. The views expressed in this presentation are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NHS, the NIHR or the Department of Health.

Keywords: Stigmatization, self-stigma, depression.