Internalized stigma and its correlates among family caregivers of patients diagnosed with schizophrenia in Changsha, Hunan, China

作者：Ziyao Guan, Chongmei Huang, James Wiley, Mei Sun, Xiaoling Bai, Siyuan Tang · 发表于：Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing · 年份：2019 · DOI：10.1111/jpm.12571 · 被引用次数：39 · 研究领域：Mental Health Treatment and Access、Family Caregiving in Mental Illness、Schizophrenia research and treatment

WHAT IS KNOWN ON THE SUBJECT?: Schizophrenia is a severe and highly stigmatized mental illness. High internalized stigma affects FGs' quality of life and caregiving capacity. Worldwide studies aimed at internalized stigma among patients diagnosed with mental illness or their FGs have reported significant stigma and some correlates, but studies involving FGs that focus on a specific mental illness (e.g. schizophrenia) and report the impact of potential psychosocial variables (e.g. coping and hope) on internalized stigma are limited. WHAT DOES THE PAPER ADD TO EXISTING KNOWLEDGE?: Internalized stigma was common among Chinese FGs of patients diagnosed with schizophrenia and half of them presented at a mild level. Internalized stigma was negatively associated with hope and positively associated with passive coping. FGs, who live with patients, have difficulty supervising medication, or care for a male relative has higher internalized stigma. WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE?: Regarding informative support, interventions (e.g. enhancing mental health literacy programs and cognitive therapies) to provide knowledge about schizophrenia, the skills to manage patients' adherence to medications, the benefits of treatment and the possibilities of rehabilitation are necessary for FGs. Regarding psychosocial processes, effective interventions (e.g. group psychoeducation and group social skills training) aimed to enhance hope, social support and coping styles towards internalized stig...