Self-stigma in people with bipolar disorder based on their real sense of acceptance from their family

Abstract Background: Although efforts have been made to reduce discrimination against people with disabilities, stigma regarding mentally disabled people still exists and significantly impacts treatment success and their way of life.This study aimed to determine how a patient’s sense of acceptance from their family influenced self-stigma, the patient’s treatment, and social life by asking several questions about their demographics and feelings. Based on these results, we discussed effective interventions for self-stigma reduction and social integration in patients with bipolar disorder based on our results. Results: Of the 131 respondents, 127 were included in the analysis. Multiple logistic analysis revealed that for patients with bipolar disorder, having a sense of acceptance from their families was related to self-stigma intensity, and self-stigma was weakened when the patient felt accepted by the family. Furthermore, in those who felt a sense of acceptance from their families, the odds ratio was 11 times higher for those who disclosed the illness to their partners and 5.7 times higher for those who disclosed the illness to their siblings than for those who did not feel a sense of acceptance from their families. Conclusions: To reduce self-stigma in patients with bipolar disorder, they need to obtain a sense of acceptance from their families. Furthermore, to help their families accept the patient, we should provide family care tailored to their respective positions and ways of interacting with their affective family.