Mood Emot 2004 Oct; 2(3): 237-244  
An Investigation of the Perceived Stigma of Depressive Patients
Byung-Joo Ham, MD, PhD1, Min Soo Lee, MD, PhD2, Rhee-Hun Kang, MD2, Tae-Yeon Hwang, MD, PhD3, Yoo-Kyung Lee, MA, PhD3, Geun-Yeung Han, MA3, Yun Kyeung Choi, MA, PhD2 and Ihn-Geun Choi, MD, PhD1
1Department of Neuropsychiatry, Hangang Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University Medical Center, Seoul, Korea, 2Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, Korea, 3Yong-In Psychiatric Research Institute, Kyeonggi Province, Korea
Correspondence to: 이민수, 136-075 서울 성북구 안암동 5가 126-1 고려대학교 의과대학 정신과학교실, 전화：(02) 920-5354·전송：(02) 923-3507, E-mail：leeminso@korea.ac.kr
Published online: October 31, 2004.
© Korean Society for Affective Disorders. All rights reserved.

Abstract
Objectives：The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors affecting perceived stigma with patients with depressive disorders. Methods：We used the Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Scale (ISMI) for measurement of perceived stigma and the Korea Depression Scale (KDS) for depression with a sample of depressed subjects from a University hospital outpatient psychiatric clinic (N=205). Results：The marriage state was proved to one of the most important factor for perceived stigma. The unmarried group has higher scores in all items of ISMI except stigma resistance. The higher the attainments in scholarship, social withdrawal, the stigma resistance and total scores of ISMI were higher. In job status, Alienation, Discrimination, Social Withdrawal, and total scores of ISMI were higher in students, office worker, and jobless than others. But there are no differences in number of episode, treatment duration, history of suicidal attempt, diagnosis. But the age of onset is earlier, degree of perceived stigma is larger. There are also significant correlation between scores of KDS and all items of ISMI. In regression analysis, depression, marriage state, occupation and education level are most important factors for perceived stigma in patient with depression. Conclusion：We found the fact that depression severity, marriage state, occupation and education appear to be a strong predictor of perceived stigma.
Keywords: Depression, Perceived stigma.

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