Stigmatization of people with depression in medical students

Abstract

Introduction. Depression is a public health issue worldwide, including in European countries. Over 350 million people worldwide suffer from depression. Stigmatization of people with depression is an important barrier to addressing a health care specialist and respecting treatment. More than 50% of people with depression have never visited a mental health specialist to receive professional help. Aim of the study. To study the social and demographic characteristics of stigmatization towards people with depression in students from Moldova. Materials and methods. In a cross-sectional study, we evaluated 414 medical students. The data were collected on the basis of a self-reported anonymous questionnaire, through which beyond the stigmatization of people with depression, the individual and family characteristics of the participants were evaluated. Stigmatization was assessed using the Depression Stigmatization Assessment Scale (DSS), developed by Kathleen Griffiths. Results. The level of average stigmatization (standard deviation) measured by the Stigmatization Evaluation Scale for People with Depression (DSS) showed lower values for personal stigmatization (18.83 (4.88) compared to perceived stigmatization [26.21 (3.30), p <0.001. There is no difference in the level of stigmatization regarding the presence of a person with depression in the family. Previous studies show that through contact with people with depression, the level of stigma decreases. Conclusions. The level of personal stigmatization towards people with depression is lower than compared to perceived stigmatization in Moldova. Further research is needed to understand the characteristics of stigma against depression.