746 – Insight as a Mediator between Stigma and Depression in Schizophrenia

Abstract

Introduction:

The “Paradox of insight” in schizophrenia is a fact of its controversial impact with both positive and negative sides. It is known that insight and depression are positively correlated: the more awareness of schizophrenic illness, the more likelihood of depression. The mechanisms of this correlation have been clarified insufficiently at the moment.

Objective:

We hypothesized that the correlation between level of depression in patients and stigmatizing views of their close relatives depends on patient's illness awareness.

Materials and methods:

120 patients (response rate - 80%) with a diagnosis of “paranoid schizophrenia” were included in the cross-sectional, observational study. Following questionnaires were used: “The Scale to Assess Unawareness of Mental Disorder” (SUMD), “Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia” (CDSS). The stigmatizing views were assessed in patient's closest relatives with questioner “Mental health in public conscience” developed by Iastrebov et all.

Results:

We have found statistically significant differences of correlations between patients’ groups with different level of insight (full, partial and absence of awareness of mental illness). Moreover, only in group of patients with full awareness of mental disorder the statistically significant correlation between level of depression in patients and intensity of stigmatizing beliefs in their close relative was found.

Conclusions:

Received data support hypothesis that the correlation between the level of depression in patients and the intensity of stigmatizing views of their close relatives depends on the patient's illness awareness.