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The impact of illness identity on recovery from severe mental illness: A test of the model
Author(s) -
Yanos Philip T.,
Adams Shane,
Roe David,
Lysaker Paul H.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of clinical psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.124
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1097-4679
pISSN - 0021-9762
DOI - 10.1002/jclp.23155
Subject(s) - psychology , mental illness , clinical psychology , stigma (botany) , coping (psychology) , path analysis (statistics) , psychiatry , interpersonal communication , schizophrenia spectrum , psychosis , mental health , social psychology , statistics , mathematics
Objective The Illness Identity model posits that self‐stigma reduces hope and self‐esteem among persons with severe mental illnesses, impacting a range of outcomes. The “insight paradox” anticipates that the negative effects of self‐stigma are amplified by insight. This study tested these predictions using both cluster and path analyses. Method A total of 117 participants meeting the criteria for schizophrenia‐spectrum disorders completed measures of self‐stigma, self‐esteem, hopelessness, insight, social functioning, coping, and symptoms. Results Cluster analysis supported the insight paradox; persons with low self‐stigma/high insight had fewer psychiatric symptoms and better interpersonal functioning than persons with high self‐stigma/low insight. Path analysis did not support the insight paradox, but indicated that self‐stigma and insight impact different outcomes. Discussion Findings suggest that support for the predictions of the Illness Identity model and insight paradox are supported may depend on analytic method. Conclusions Finding suggest that the benefits of self‐stigma reduction may be constrained by insight.