Abstract:
The impact of stigmatisation on adults with mental illnesses has been thoroughly demonstrated. However, little is known about experiences of stigmatisation among adolescents with mental illness. Through semi-structured interviews with 34 Danish adolescents (14-19 years) diagnosed with psychosis, this study explores adolescents\' experiences of psychosis stigma. On the basis of phenomenological analysis, we find that stigmatisation is widely experienced, and psychosis is generally regarded as more stigmatising than co-morbid mental illnesses. The participants engage in different strategies to manage possible stigma, especially strategies of (non-)disclosure. Disclosure is experienced as both therapeutic and normative, but also bears the risk of stigmatisation, and is therefore associated with numerous considerations. Being understood when disclosing is central to the participants, and lack of understanding from others is a continuous challenge. Nevertheless, participants experience benefits when feeling understood by people they confide in and can to a degree create the grounds for this through centralising aspects of their experiences of psychosis and mental illness. We argue that disclosure is both a stigma management strategy and a normative imperative, and that being understood or not is a challenge transcending stigma definitions.Clinical trial registration: Danish Health and Medicines Authority: 2612-4168. The Ethics Committee of Capital Region: H-3-2009-123. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01119014. Danish Data Protection Agency: 2009-41-3991.
摘要:
污名化对患有精神疾病的成年人的影响已得到充分证明。然而,对患有精神疾病的青少年的污名化经历知之甚少。通过对34名被诊断患有精神病的丹麦青少年(14-19岁)的半结构化访谈,这项研究探讨了青少年精神病耻辱的经历。在现象学分析的基础上,我们发现污名化是广泛经历的,精神病通常被认为比共病精神疾病更具污名性。参与者采用不同的策略来管理可能的污名,尤其是(非)披露策略。披露既是治疗性的,也是规范性的,但也有污名化的风险,因此与许多考虑因素有关。在披露时被理解是参与者的核心,缺乏他人的理解是一个持续的挑战。然而,参与者在被他们倾诉的人理解时体验到好处,并且可以在一定程度上通过集中他们对精神病和精神疾病的经历创造理由。我们认为,披露既是一种耻辱管理策略,也是一种规范的必要条件,被理解与否是超越污名定义的挑战。临床试验注册:丹麦卫生和药品管理局:2612-4168。首都地区道德委员会:H-3-2009-123。ClinicalTrials.gov:NCT01119014。丹麦数据保护局:2009-41-3991。