Perceptions of social stigma and its effect on interpersonal relationships of young males who experience a psychotic disorder

Abstract

Background: People with psychotic disorders experience high levels of disability and impairment as a result of their illness. Difficulty in the area of social relationships poses a substantial problem with the majority of people with psychosis being socially isolated. Many of them experience an unmet need for services. Methods: A focus group was conducted with the aim of investigating the perceived experience of six young men who had a psychotic disorder to gain an understanding of the impact this had on interpersonal relationships. Results: The major themes identified were: (i) a significant decrease in the internal and external control of one's life at the onset of illness; (ii) the effects of labelling and stigma on interpersonal relationships; and (iii) the change in self perception that these effects bring. Conclusion: The implications of the findings for rehabilitation interventions are presented, specifically psychosocial group interventions addressing interpersonal relationships.