Magnitude of internalised stigma and associated factors among people with bipolar disorder at Amanuel Mental Specialized Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

One in four patients with bipolar disorder reported high internalised stigma. Unemployment, low educational status, low self-esteem, poor social support and being hospitalised more than three times before were significantly associated with internalised stigma. Thus, a stigma-reduction programme focusing on self-esteem improvement and psychological health of patients to increase their stigma resistance to counteracting effects of internalised stigma is essential.