Cognitive Insight and Causal Attribution in the Development of Self-Stigma Among Individuals With Schizophrenia

1800 Objective: Stigma has dampening effects on the overall rehabilitation of individuals given a diagnosis of schizophrenia. This study was an initial attempt to understand the relationship between cognitive insight and attribution in the development of self-stigma among this group of mental health consumers. Methods: In a cross-sectional design, the investigators interviewed 162 mental health consumers with broad diagnoses of schizophrenia from 15 community-based psychiatric rehabilitation centers in Hong Kong. After controlling for the effects of demographic and illnessrelated factors, the authors used hierarchical multiple regression analysis to investigate the effects of cognitive insight and causal attribution on self-stigma. Results: Better cognitive insight and attribution of personal responsibility to the cause of the illness were significantly associated with higher levels of self-stigma. Conclusions: Given that awareness and interpretation of participants’ illness were related to self-stigma, cognitive restructuring is needed to alleviate self-stigma among individuals with schizophrenia. (Psychiatric Services 57:1800– 1802, 2006)