Eugenia Savvidou - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
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ULHT - Universidade Lusofona de Humanidades e Tecnologias
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Papers by Eugenia Savvidou
Journal of Affective Disorders, 2015
ABSTRACT Even though numerous studies have focused on the effects of self-stigma on patients with... more ABSTRACT Even though numerous studies have focused on the effects of self-stigma on patients with schizophrenia, little is known about self-stigma of patients with bipolar disorder (BD). In this study, a self-administered scale of self-stigmatising attitudes of patients with BD and schizophrenia was used to explore these attitudes, examine the potential differences between the two groups and study the factors that influence stigma within groups. Self-stigma of 120 patients with schizophrenia and BD was assessed with the Self-stigma Questionnaire (SSQ) and the Stigma Inventory for Mental Illness (SIMI). Presence of clinical symptoms, overall functioning and level of self-esteem were also evaluated. Self-stigma is present in both groups but differs in its intensity. Patients with BD experience self-stigma in a lesser degree without affecting their social life or overall functioning. Patients with schizophrenia adopt more intense self-stigmatising attitudes leading to social exclusion and lower level of overall functioning. The results are limited by the small sample size, whereas the inclusion of other questionnaires would broaden our insight to self-stigma. Self-stigma has a direct effect on overall functioning of patients with BD and schizophrenia tampering the clinical outcome of therapeutic interventions. Therefore, it should be incorporated in every treatment plan and be addressed as a clinical symptom of the mental illness. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Comprehensive Psychiatry, 2014
Objective: The aim of this study was to develop a new brief and easy to administer self-stigma sc... more Objective: The aim of this study was to develop a new brief and easy to administer self-stigma scale for mental illness as well as to assess the correlations between self-stigma and psychopathology of chronic schizophrenic patients. Methods: The Stigma Inventory for Mental Illness (SIMI) was administered to 100 outpatients diagnosed with schizophrenia. Psychopathology and overall functioning were assessed with the Positive and Negative Symptom Scale (PANSS) and Global Assessment Scale (GAS), respectively. Results: The final scale consists of 12 items. Factor analysis concluded to two dimensions: perceptions of social stigma and self-efficacy. Both factors were found to be reliable (high internal consistency and stability coefficients). Significant correlations were present with psychopathology, functioning and selected items from the Community Attitudes toward the Mentally Ill (CAMI) inventory. Conclusion: The SIMI scale is a reliable and valid psychometric tool that can be used to assess patient's self-stigma and self-efficacy. The findings suggest also that psychopathology has an immediate effect on endorsing self-stigmatizing attitudes. [48]. Blankertz L. Cognitive components of self-esteem for individuals with severe mental illness.
Journal of Affective Disorders, 2015
ABSTRACT Even though numerous studies have focused on the effects of self-stigma on patients with... more ABSTRACT Even though numerous studies have focused on the effects of self-stigma on patients with schizophrenia, little is known about self-stigma of patients with bipolar disorder (BD). In this study, a self-administered scale of self-stigmatising attitudes of patients with BD and schizophrenia was used to explore these attitudes, examine the potential differences between the two groups and study the factors that influence stigma within groups. Self-stigma of 120 patients with schizophrenia and BD was assessed with the Self-stigma Questionnaire (SSQ) and the Stigma Inventory for Mental Illness (SIMI). Presence of clinical symptoms, overall functioning and level of self-esteem were also evaluated. Self-stigma is present in both groups but differs in its intensity. Patients with BD experience self-stigma in a lesser degree without affecting their social life or overall functioning. Patients with schizophrenia adopt more intense self-stigmatising attitudes leading to social exclusion and lower level of overall functioning. The results are limited by the small sample size, whereas the inclusion of other questionnaires would broaden our insight to self-stigma. Self-stigma has a direct effect on overall functioning of patients with BD and schizophrenia tampering the clinical outcome of therapeutic interventions. Therefore, it should be incorporated in every treatment plan and be addressed as a clinical symptom of the mental illness. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Comprehensive Psychiatry, 2014
Objective: The aim of this study was to develop a new brief and easy to administer self-stigma sc... more Objective: The aim of this study was to develop a new brief and easy to administer self-stigma scale for mental illness as well as to assess the correlations between self-stigma and psychopathology of chronic schizophrenic patients. Methods: The Stigma Inventory for Mental Illness (SIMI) was administered to 100 outpatients diagnosed with schizophrenia. Psychopathology and overall functioning were assessed with the Positive and Negative Symptom Scale (PANSS) and Global Assessment Scale (GAS), respectively. Results: The final scale consists of 12 items. Factor analysis concluded to two dimensions: perceptions of social stigma and self-efficacy. Both factors were found to be reliable (high internal consistency and stability coefficients). Significant correlations were present with psychopathology, functioning and selected items from the Community Attitudes toward the Mentally Ill (CAMI) inventory. Conclusion: The SIMI scale is a reliable and valid psychometric tool that can be used to assess patient's self-stigma and self-efficacy. The findings suggest also that psychopathology has an immediate effect on endorsing self-stigmatizing attitudes. [48]. Blankertz L. Cognitive components of self-esteem for individuals with severe mental illness.