Association between insight and internalized stigma and other clinical factors among patients with depression: A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: Insight influences treatment adherence among patients with depression. These patients also experience considerable social and self-stigma. The relationship between insight and internalized stigma has been extensively studied among patients with schizophrenia but not patients with depression. AIM: This study aimed to determine the relationship between the level of insight in illness and internalized stigma among patients with depression and to identify the clinical factors associated with impaired insight. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among adult psychiatric outpatients with depressive disorders at a teaching hospital in Kuala Lumpur for 10 months. Sociodemographic and illness-related data were gathered. Two questionnaires, Mood Disorder Insight Scale (MDIS) and Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Scale (ISMI), were administered. RESULTS: Ninety-nine respondents participated in the study (female: 63.6%; Malay: 41.4%; mean age: 46.4 years). The median duration of illness was 6.0 years. More respondents were taking combination therapy (59.6%). There was a statistically significant correlation between ISMI and MDIS scores (r(s) = 0.339, P = 0.001). On bivariate analyses, intact insight was associated with non-Malay race, combination therapy, higher average ISMI scores and subscores for alienation, stereotype endorsement, discrimination experience, and social withdrawal. Combination therapy, higher scores for alienation, and social withdrawal subscales were associated with a greater likelihood for intact insight in logistic regression model. CONCLUSIONS: Significant association exists between insight and internalized stigma in patients with depression. Interventions to reduce the impact of internalized stigma while improving patients' insight are required.