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Self‐image as a defence against stigma of being mentally ill
Author(s) -
Drozdzowicz L.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
acta psychiatrica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.849
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1600-0447
pISSN - 0001-690X
DOI - 10.1034/j.1600-0447.106.s413.1_126.x
Subject(s) - adjective check list , mentally ill , psychology , self image , pessimism , stigma (botany) , psychiatry , mental illness , clinical psychology , social psychology , personality , mental health , philosophy , epistemology
The paper presents some findings of a prospective study on the self‐image of patients ill with schizophrenia. 57 patients were examined 3 times: 1, 3, and 7 years from the time of the first admission to hospital. As a main measuring tool of self‐image the Adjective Check List of Gough and Heilbrun was used. It was administreited in two versions: ‘Who I am?’ and ‘Who I would like to be?’ Three main conclusions emerged from the study: (1) There is a strong tendency to deny the fact of being mentally ill. This tendency is stronger at the beginning and lessens with the time. (2) The stronger the patient's tendency todeny the illness the more inappriopriate is the self‐image expressed through no divergence between real and ideal version of self‐image. (3) Those who had the highest level of self‐ acceptance and a tendency to be defencive at the beginning, show the most pessimistic self‐image after 7 years.