Citation

Scocco P, Toffol E, Preti A. J. Nerv. Ment. Dis. 2016; 204(3): 194-202.

Affiliation

*Mental Health Center, Padova, Italy; †Department of Health, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland; ‡Center of Liaison Psychiatry and Psychosomatics, University of Cagliari; §Genneruxi Medical Center, Cagliari, Italy.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/NMD.0000000000000457

PMID

26751731

Abstract

People who suffer from mental illness have high self-stigmatizing attitudes. This study aims to test the effect of psychopathological distress on stigma toward attempted suicide in a population of suicide attempters. Data were collected through an interview and 2 questionnaires (90-item Symptom Checklist; Stigma of Suicide Attempt scale) administered to 67 patients hospitalized after an attempted suicide. Participants with a history of past attempted suicide had higher scores on the Stigma of Suicide Attempt scale (t58.9 = -2.51, p = 0.014). Higher levels of psychological distress were related to greater perceived stigma only in individuals with a history of past attempted suicide (standardized coefficient = 0.37; t = 2.36; p = 0.024; R = 14%; adjusted R = 11.5%). A previous experience of attempted suicide is related to greater self-stigmatizing attitudes toward suicidal behavior. Among those who have previously attempted suicide in particular, psychopathological distress may significantly contribute to increase the perception of stigma.

Language: en