Publication:

Internalized stigma and quality of life among recipients of a rural community mental health program in southern Karnataka, India: a cross sectional study

Background In the field of mental health the role of adherence to medications is an important concept. One of the important reasons to be non-adherent to medications is the presence of stigma among mentally ill patients. The objectives of this study were to measure stigma to mental illness and quality of life among the enrolled patients in a community mental health program.

Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among 300 persons registered under a rural mental health program selected by consecutive sampling. A questionnaire capturing information on socio-demography, stigma using Internalized stigma of mental illness (ISMI), and quality of life using WHO-BREF QOL questionnaire was used.

Results In study 8 (2.7%) of the study, subjects were suffering from moderate stigma. Factors like gender, type of family, and marital status were significantly associated with total stigma. Quality of life domains was also positively associated with education, occupation, marital status, and socioeconomic status.

Conclusions The study showed minimal existence of stigma and lower mean scores in quality-of-life domains.