» Articles » PMID: 19162314

Global Pattern of Experienced and Anticipated Discrimination Against People with Schizophrenia: a Cross-sectional Survey

Overview
Journal Lancet
Publisher Elsevier
Specialty General Medicine
Date 2009 Jan 24
PMID 19162314
Citations 322
Authors
Affiliations
Soon will be listed here.
Abstract

Background: Many people with schizophrenia experience stigma caused by other people's knowledge, attitudes, and behaviour; this can lead to impoverishment, social marginalisation, and low quality of life. We aimed to describe the nature, direction, and severity of anticipated and experienced discrimination reported by people with schizophrenia.

Methods: We did a cross-sectional survey in 27 countries, in centres affiliated to the INDIGO Research Network, by use of face-to-face interviews with 732 participants with schizophrenia. Discrimination was measured with the newly validated discrimination and stigma scale (DISC), which produces three subscores: positive experienced discrimination; negative experienced discrimination; and anticipated discrimination.

Findings: Negative discrimination was experienced by 344 (47%) of 729 participants in making or keeping friends, by 315 (43%) of 728 from family members, by 209 (29%) of 724 in finding a job, 215 (29%) of 730 in keeping a job, and by 196 (27%) of 724 in intimate or sexual relationships. Positive experienced discrimination was rare. Anticipated discrimination affected 469 (64%) in applying for work, training, or education and 402 (55%) looking for a close relationship; 526 (72%) felt the need to conceal their diagnosis. Over a third of participants anticipated discrimination for job seeking and close personal relationships when no discrimination was experienced.

Interpretation: Rates of both anticipated and experienced discrimination are consistently high across countries among people with mental illness. Measures such as disability discrimination laws might, therefore, not be effective without interventions to improve self-esteem of people with mental illness.

Citing Articles

Experienced and anticipated discrimination among people living with schizophrenia in China: a cross-sectional study.

Li Y, Qiu D, Zhang C, Wu Q, Ni A, Tang Z Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2025; .

PMID: 39953168 DOI: 10.1007/s00127-025-02839-x.


Assessing the effectiveness and the feasibility of a group-based treatment for self-stigma in people with mental disorders in routine mental health services in North-East Italy: study protocol for a pragmatic multisite randomized controlled trial.

Lasalvia A, Bodini L, Cristofalo D, Fin V, Yanos P, Bonetto C Trials. 2025; 26(1):35.

PMID: 39891254 PMC: 11783781. DOI: 10.1186/s13063-025-08739-4.


A feasibility randomized controlled trial of an individually delivered, peer support intervention to reduce the impact of psychosis stigma and discrimination for people with psychosis: the let's talk study.

Pyle M, Corrigan P, Wood L, Pilling S, Murphy E, Macafee G Psychol Med. 2024; :1-12.

PMID: 39726176 PMC: 11769902. DOI: 10.1017/S0033291724002605.


Mental Health Stigma Reduction Interventions Among Men: A Systematic Review.

Sweeney J, ODonnell S, Roche E, White P, Carroll P, Richardson N Am J Mens Health. 2024; 18(6):15579883241299353.

PMID: 39576007 PMC: 11585030. DOI: 10.1177/15579883241299353.


Differences in TAVR Utilization in Aortic Stenosis Among Patients With and Without Psychiatric Comorbidities.

Abugrin M, Zagorulko A, Aboulqassim B, Raja A, Thyagaturu H, Khadra A J Soc Cardiovasc Angiogr Interv. 2024; 3(9):102235.

PMID: 39575218 PMC: 11576367. DOI: 10.1016/j.jscai.2024.102235.