Internalized stigma in physicians with mental illness

Objective: Internalized stigma means accepting negative statements and stereotypes about the disorder in people with mental disorders and reflecting on their thoughts and behaviors. High levels of internalized stigma negatively affect the recovery process in mental disorders and reduce functionality. In our study, it is aimed to determine the internal stigmatization levels of physicians with mental disorders and the factors affecting stigmatization levels. Method: The study was conducted between October 1, 2020-November 30, 2020, using an online cross-sectional self-report survey, and included 156 volunteer physicians who completed the survey questions. A "sociodemographic and clinical characteristics evaluation form" and the "Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Scale" were applied to all participants. Results: It was observed that physicians were most frequently diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder (54.5%) and Anxiety Disorder (32.1%). It was observed that 62.8% of physicians used psychopharmacological treatment, 12.8% had attempted suicide, and 8.3% received inpatient treatment. There was no statistical difference between the age, gender, professional experience, and departments of the groups considered as high- and low-internalized stigma. Individuals with Bipolar Disorder, ADHD, and Substance Use Disorder were observed to be in the high internal stigma group. In addition, a higher rate of family history of psychiatric illness was observed in the high-internalized stigma group. Discussion: Our study demonstrated that physicians with a mental illness had internalized stigma as in individuals with mental illness. Considering that internalized stigma affects attitudes and behaviors towards these patients, determining these differences will be a guide in struggles to prevent stigma against mental illnesses.