TY - JOUR
T1 - Stigma in bipolar disorder : a current review of the literature
AU - Perich, Tania
AU - Mitchell, Philip B.
AU - Vilus, Bojana
PY - 2022
Y1 - 2022
N2 - Stigma has been found to have an impact on those living with bipolar disorder, with many experiencing negative consequences of stereotypes, prejudice and discrimination as a result of their condition. The aim of this review was to assess the current literature in bipolar disorder to determine the impact of stigma on people living with this condition and caregivers. Public stigma was associated with greater functional impairment, anxiety and poorer work-related outcomes, while self-stigma was also found to be associated with lower levels of functioning across a range of domains and greater depressive and anxiety symptoms. For those with bipolar disorder, public stigma was reported at similar rates to those with schizophrenia and depression in some studies, with other studies noting mixed results. Qualitative studies noted that public stigma and discrimination were experienced from family, friends and healthcare providers. Self-stigma was found to be higher for those who were younger in several studies and associated with worse medication adherence. It was generally found to be higher in bipolar disorder participants than in those with anxiety disorders and lower than those with personality disorders. Limitations of the current research include the following: few studies have used a longitudinal design, few have assessed the impact of stigma on medication adherence and few have explored these issues in younger populations. More research is needed to explore the experiences of self-stigma for those in the younger age group specifically, given the relationship between younger age and greater self-stigma noted in several studies and the relationship between this and lower treatment adherence.
AB - Stigma has been found to have an impact on those living with bipolar disorder, with many experiencing negative consequences of stereotypes, prejudice and discrimination as a result of their condition. The aim of this review was to assess the current literature in bipolar disorder to determine the impact of stigma on people living with this condition and caregivers. Public stigma was associated with greater functional impairment, anxiety and poorer work-related outcomes, while self-stigma was also found to be associated with lower levels of functioning across a range of domains and greater depressive and anxiety symptoms. For those with bipolar disorder, public stigma was reported at similar rates to those with schizophrenia and depression in some studies, with other studies noting mixed results. Qualitative studies noted that public stigma and discrimination were experienced from family, friends and healthcare providers. Self-stigma was found to be higher for those who were younger in several studies and associated with worse medication adherence. It was generally found to be higher in bipolar disorder participants than in those with anxiety disorders and lower than those with personality disorders. Limitations of the current research include the following: few studies have used a longitudinal design, few have assessed the impact of stigma on medication adherence and few have explored these issues in younger populations. More research is needed to explore the experiences of self-stigma for those in the younger age group specifically, given the relationship between younger age and greater self-stigma noted in several studies and the relationship between this and lower treatment adherence.
UR - https://hdl.handle.net/1959.7/uws:69145
U2 - 10.1177/00048674221080708
DO - 10.1177/00048674221080708
M3 - Article
VL - 56
SP - 1060
EP - 1064
JO - Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry
JF - Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry
IS - 9
ER -