ArticlesGlobal pattern of experienced and anticipated discrimination reported by people with major depressive disorder: a cross-sectional survey
Section snippets
Background
Depression is the third leading contributor to the global burden of disease and the first in middle-income and high-income countries.1 It can be reliably diagnosed in both primary care and specialised services. Antidepressant drugs and brief structured psychotherapy sessions are effective in 60–80% of individuals with depression.2 However, fewer than half the people with depression are treated.3 Barriers to effective care include inadequate policy, mental health services, community resources,
Study design
The study was a multisite face-to-face, cross-sectional survey undertaken in 35 countries. Data were gathered as part of the European Union (EU)-funded ASPEN (Anti Stigma Programme European Network) study and the INDIGO-Depression (International Study of Discrimination and Stigma for Depression) research network. Overall, there were 19 sites in 18 ASPEN EU-funded countries (Belgium, Bulgaria, England, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy [Brescia and Verona], Lithuania, the
Results
Table 1 shows the characteristics of the 1087 study participants. Table 2 shows the profile of discrimination experienced by the 1082 individuals who completed DISC-12.
855 (79%) of 1082 participants had experienced discrimination in at least one domain of their lives. The domains reported most often were family, making or keeping friends, marriage or divorce, keeping a job, personal safety and security, and intimate or sexual relationships (table 2). Importantly, nearly a third of participants
Discussion
Overall, the results of our study show that rates of experienced discrimination in people with depression are high in the different countries, with rates in some life domains (eg, family and social relations) substantially similar to those in people with schizophrenia.18 The levels of discrimination in this study might be underestimates because people with very high levels of experienced or anticipated discrimination could have avoided service contact. However, overall levels of reported
References (36)
- et al.
Does stigma predict a belief in dealing with depression alone?
J Affect Disord
(2011) - et al.
Self-stigma, empowerment and perceived discrimination among people with bipolar disorder or depression in 13 European countries: the GAMIAN-Europe study
J Affect Disord
(2011) - et al.
Stigma and self-esteem in manic depression: an exploratory study
J Affect Disord
(2002) - et al.
Perceived stigma among individuals with common mental disorders
J Affect Disord
(2009) - et al.
Stigma and functioning in patients with bipolar disorder
J Affect Disord
(2011) - et al.
Global pattern of experienced and anticipated discrimination against people with schizophrenia: a cross-sectional survey
Lancet
(2009) - et al.
A stress-coping model of mental illness stigma: II. Emotional stress responses, coping behavior and outcome
Schizophr Res
(2009) - et al.
Addressing stigma of depression in Latino primary care patients
Gen Hosp Psychiatry
(2010) Global burden of disease: 2004 update
(2008)Depression: NICE clinical guideline 90
(2009)
The treatment gap in mental health care
Bull World Health Organ
WHO Mental Health Atlas
Stigma about depression and its impact on help-seeking intentions
Aust N Z J Psychiatry
Stigma: ignorance, prejudice or discrimination?
Br J Psychiatry
Personal stigma and use of mental health services among people with depression in a general population in Finland
BMC Psychiatry
Perceptions of self-stigma and its correlates among older adults with depression: a preliminary study
Int Psychogeriatr
Comparing the stigma of mental illness in a general hospital with a state mental hospital: a Singapore study
Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol
Stigmatization and self-esteem of persons in recovery from mental illness: the role of peer support
Int J Soc Psychiatry
Cited by (320)
Development and validation of a new standardized measure for assessing experiences of discrimination within mental health services. A participatory research project
2023, Epidemiology and Psychiatric SciencesAdaptation and implementation of an employee mental health disclosure decision aid tool in a real-world sample
2024, Translational Behavioral MedicineEffectiveness of a Stigma Awareness Intervention on Reemployment of People with Mental Health Issues/Mental Illness: A Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial
2024, Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation
- †
Members listed at end of paper