Standardization of the Discrimination and Stigma Scale-Korean Version (DISC 12-K) in Patients with Depressive Disorders

OBJECTIVE: The Discrimination and Stigma Scale (DISC 12), which assesses behavioral and experienced stigma, has not been translated into Korean. We developed and standardized the Korean version of the DISC 12 (DISC 12-K) in patients with depressive disorders. METHODS: The study included 230 patients with depressive disorders who were assessed on the four subscales of the DISC 12-K: Unfair Treatment, Stopping Self, Overcoming Stigma, and Positive Treatment. Additionally, stigma was assessed using the Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness scale, depressive symptoms using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and Beck Depression Inventory, level of functioning using the Social and Occupational Functioning Assessment Scale, self-esteem using the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and quality of life was assessed using the EuroQol-5D. The reliability of DISC 12 was assessed by internal consistency using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient and estimating the intercorrelation of items and corrected item-total correlations; interrater reliability and test–retest reliability were assessed using intraclass correlation coefficients at the item and subscale levels; and the concurrent validity of the DISC 12-K relative to the other assessment scales was assessed using Spearman’s correlation coefficient. RESULTS: All of the DISC 12-K subscales had high reliability. The validity was good for the Unfair Treatment and Stopping Self subscales, but only fair for the Overcoming Stigma and Positive Treatment subscales. CONCLUSION: The Unfair Treatment and Stopping Self subscales of the new DISC 12-K are reliable and valid measures of stigma in patients with depressive disorders. Future studies are needed to test the validity of this scale in other mental disorders.