%0 Journal Article
%T Internalized stigma of mental illness in Sweden and Iran¡ªA comparative study
%A Lars Jacobsson
%A Helia Ghanean
%A Birgitta T£¿rnkvist
%J Open Journal of Psychiatry
%P 370-374
%@ 2161-7333
%D 2013
%I Scientific Research Publishing
%R 10.4236/ojpsych.2013.34039
%X <p>
	<span style=\"font-size:12px;font-family:Verdana;\">Objectives: Stigma and discrimination
because of mental illness is still prevalent even in high-income countries
where a lot of emphasis has been given to anti-stigma activities and measures
to reduce the marginalization of these persons. One aspect of the stigma issue
is the self-stigmatization that persons suffering from mental illness are
experiencing. In this study two different societies have been compared as
regards internalized stigma of mental illness. Methods: A widely used
questionnaire was used by the Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness scale
(ISMI). One sample of psychiatric patients from Sweden (N = 163) and from Iran
(N = 138) is compared. Results: The Swedish sample generally reports lower
levels of experienced stigma except for items covering selfblame and feelings
of alienation. Conclusions: There are reasons to consider the aspect of
self-stigmatization when working with mentally ill persons even in high income
countries with well developed mental health services.</span> 
</p>
%K Mental Disorders
%K Internalized Stigma
%K Iran
%K Sweden
%U http://www.scirp.org/journal/PaperInformation.aspx?PaperID=36817