Self-stigma of Schizophrenia Patients with Work Experiences and Reasons Not to Disclose Their Illness

Abstract

Questionnaires were distributed to 49 stable schizophrenia patients with work experience who were either hospitalized in an open ward of a psychiatric hospital or were outpatients of the hospital to gain understanding of schizophrenia patients’ experiences at work, reasons for not disclosing their illness, and self-stigma. The questionnaire used in the present study consisted of 3 sections. Section 1 collected demographic information. Section 2 assessed the social distance of schizophrenia. Section 3 examined the reasons for not disclosing mental illness. The Kruskal–Wallis test and Mann–Whitney U test were used to examine associations between Social Distance Scale Japanese version (SDSJ) score and demographic characteristics. I categorized the qualitative data on reasons for non-disclosure and analyzed these categories. Work experience as a full-time employee was associated with total SDSJ score (p < 0.05). The four reasons not to disclose illness to the employer at the time of employment were: avoiding non-employment, avoiding worse treatment, feeling no need to disclose, and feeling unable confess. The three reasons for not disclosing illness to the employer once employed the job were: anxiety about stigma, anxiety about dismissal, and feeling no need to disclose. Measures for reducing self-stigma should focus on people with schizophrenia who currently work full-time. At the same time, it is necessary to establish measures based on evidence. Such measures should also include support for illness disclosure.