Self-stigmatization, Treatment Adherence and Discontinuation of Medication: Cross-sectional Study

Introduction Self stigmatization is an important factor playing role in social life of patients, but also discourages therapy. Aim of our study was to found connection between self stigmation, adherence and discontinuation of drug treatment. Methods It is a cross-section study of ambulatory patients of Department of psychiatry, University hospital Olomouc, Czech Republic. Data were gathered from 332 probands from six basic diagnostic categories. Results From defined variables these affected self-stigamtization: education level, marital status, age, age of onset of disorder, number of hospitalizations, number of attended psychiatrist, dose of antidepresantns, score of subjective and objective CGI and level of adherence. Level of adherence was influenced by marital status, age, age of onset of disorder, dose of anxiolytics, score of subjective and objective and ISMI score. There was no significant difference is ISMI score between patients from different diagnostic categories. Level of adherence significantly differs between patients with depression and schizophrenic patients. Conclusions Level of self-stigmatization proved to be an important factor in influencing both level of adherence and discontuniation of drugs. More attention should be payed to issue of self-stigmation.