Perceived stigma as a predictor of treatment discontinuation in young and older outpatients with depression.

OBJECTIVE

The authors' goal was to examine the extent to which perceived stigma affected treatment discontinuation in young and older adults with major depression.

METHOD

A two-stage sampling design identified 92 new admissions of outpatients with major depression. Perceived stigma was assessed at admission. Discontinuation of treatment was recorded at 3-month follow-up.

RESULTS

Although younger patients reported perceiving more stigma than older patients, stigma predicted treatment discontinuation only among the older patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients' perceptions of stigma at the start of treatment influence their subsequent treatment behavior. Stigma is an appropriate target for intervention aimed at improving treatment adherence and outcomes.