Department of Gerontology, University of Haifa, Israel.
Int Psychogeriatr. 2009 Dec;21(6):1180-9. doi: 10.1017/S1041610209990470. Epub 2009 Jul 9.
Depression is common in old age and is often associated with stigma. However, to date, little is known about self-stigma (internalization of stigmatic beliefs) in depressed older people despite its importance and consequences. The aim of this study was to examine self-stigma and its correlates in depressed older people.
Phone interviews were conducted with 54 persons diagnosed with major depression (78% female, average age = 74) from a psychogeriatric clinic in the central area of Israel. Self-stigma was assessed using an adapted version of the Internalized Stigma of Mental Health (ISMI) scale. Symptoms of depression were assessed using the short form of the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). Self-esteem was measured using Rosenberg's Self Esteem Scale. Information regarding sociodemographic and psychiatric health characteristics was also collected.
Self-stigma was relatively moderate with 10% to 20% of the participants reporting self-stigma. Those who reported higher levels of self-stigma were younger than those who did not report it. Income and education were lower in persons who reported high levels of stigmatization. Persons who reported stigmatization scored higher on the GDS and reported lower self-esteem than those without stigmatization.
This study represents an effort to examine the correlates of self-stigma in depressed older people. Since self-stigma exists among older adults, further studies are required to extend this body of knowledge.
抑郁症在老年人中很常见，且常伴有污名化。然而，迄今为止，尽管自我污名化（对污名化信念的内化）具有重要性和后果，但对于老年抑郁患者的自我污名化知之甚少。本研究旨在探讨老年抑郁患者的自我污名化及其相关因素。
对以色列中部地区一家精神老年科诊所的 54 名被诊断为重度抑郁症的患者（78%为女性，平均年龄=74 岁）进行了电话访谈。使用心理健康内化污名量表（ISMI）的改编版评估自我污名化。使用老年抑郁量表（GDS）的简短形式评估抑郁症状。使用罗森伯格自尊量表评估自尊。还收集了有关社会人口学和精神健康特征的信息。
自我污名化程度相对中等，有 10%至 20%的参与者报告存在自我污名化。报告自我污名化程度较高的人比未报告自我污名化的人年龄更小。收入和教育程度在报告高度污名化的人群中较低。报告污名化的人在 GDS 上的得分更高，自我报告的自尊水平低于没有污名化的人。
本研究代表了对老年抑郁患者自我污名化相关因素的探讨。由于自我污名化存在于老年人中，因此需要进一步研究来扩展这方面的知识。
