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. 2008 Oct;118(4):305-14.
doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0447.2008.01241.x. Epub 2008 Aug 26.

Association of perceived stigma and mood and anxiety disorders: results from the World Mental Health Surveys

J Alonso  1 , A Buron, R Bruffaerts, Y He, J Posada-Villa, J-P Lepine, M C Angermeyer, D Levinson, G de Girolamo, H Tachimori, Z N Mneimneh, M E Medina-Mora, J Ormel, K M Scott, O Gureje, J M Haro, S Gluzman, S Lee, G Vilagut, R C Kessler, M Von Korff; World Mental Health Consortium
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Association of perceived stigma and mood and anxiety disorders: results from the World Mental Health Surveys

J Alonso et al. Acta Psychiatr Scand. 2008 Oct.

Abstract

Objective: We assessed the prevalence of perceived stigma among persons with mental disorders and chronic physical conditions in an international study.

Method: Perceived stigma (reporting health-related embarrassment and discrimination) was assessed among adults reporting significant disability. Mental disorders were assessed with Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) 3.0. Chronic conditions were ascertained by self-report. Household-residing adults (80,737) participated in 17 population surveys in 16 countries.

Results: Perceived stigma was present in 13.5% (22.1% in developing and 11.7% in developed countries). Suffering from a depressive or an anxiety disorder (vs. no mental disorder) was associated with about a twofold increase in the likelihood of stigma, while comorbid depression and anxiety was even more strongly associated (OR 3.4, 95%CI 2.7-4.2). Chronic physical conditions showed a much lower association.

Conclusion: Perceived stigma is frequent and strongly associated with mental disorders worldwide. Efforts to alleviate stigma among individuals with comorbid depression and anxiety are needed.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Odds ratios (ORs) for the effect of having certain mental disorders (versus having no mental disorder) on perceived stigma, controlling for age, sex, education and chronic physical conditions.
Figure 1
Figure 1
Odds ratios (ORs) for the effect of having certain mental disorders (versus having no mental disorder) on perceived stigma, controlling for age, sex, education and chronic physical conditions.
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