Change in Stigma Severity Following Psychiatric Hospitalisation: A Study of Associated Clinical Factors in an Indian Setting

Background: While stigma surrounding mental illness continues to affect management, there are hardly any studies reflecting any change following psychiatric admission. We aimed to examine how self-stigma changes during treatment in an inpatient setting and how it relates to improvements in symptoms and functioning. Methods: We analyzed stigma, depression, anxiety, stress, insight, well-being, functioning, and disability in 100 consecutive patients at admission and discharge in a psychiatric hospital in Kerala. Results: < .005). However, stigma levels did not change between admission and discharge for most (68.3%) patients; 87.5% had minimal stigma, with no scope for further reduction. In a minority (7.3%), stigma severity increased. Stigma correlated positively with depression, anxiety, functioning, and insight, and negatively with age and well-being at admission; and at discharge, positively with stress. Patients reporting stigma had higher depression, anxiety, insight, and poorer well-being both at admission and discharge. Conclusions: Most patients had a lower level of stigma; average stigma severity decreased during psychiatric admission; however, in a minority, it increased. While usual care was beneficial, the effectiveness of a proactive approach to stigma reduction warrants further study.