Self-stigma and quality of life in outpatients with depressive disorder – a cross-sectional study

Background Self-stigma is a maladaptive psychosocial phenomenon that may disturb many areas of patient's life and have the negative impact on their quality of life. The present study explored the association between self-stigma, quality of life, demographic data, and the severity of symptoms in patients with depressive disorder. Method Patients, who met ICD-10 research criteria for depressive disorder, were enrolled in the cross-sectional study. All probands completed these measurements: the Quality of Life Satisfaction and Enjoyment Questionnaire (Q-LES-Q), the Internalised Stigma of Mental Illness Scale (ISMI), demographic questionnaire, and the severity of the disorder measured by objective and subjective Clinical Global Impression severity scales (CGI). Results Eighty-one depressive patients (with persistent affective disorder – dysthymia, major depressive disorder or recurrent depressive disorder) and 43 healthy controls contributed to the study. Comparing with the healthy control group, there was a lower quality of life in patients with depression. The level of self-stigma correlated positively with total symptom severity score and negatively with the quality of life. Multiple regression analysis discovered that the overall rating of objective symptoms severity and self-stigma were significantly associated with the quality of life. Conclusions Present study suggests the lower quality of life in outpatients with depressive disorder in comparison with healthy controls, and the negative impact of self-stigma level on quality of life in patients suffering from depressive disorders.