Positive beliefs about mental illness: Associations with sex, age, diagnosis, and clinical outcomes

Self-stigma and bipolar disorder: A systematic review and best-evidence synthesis

BACKGROUND

Bipolar disorder is a severe and chronic mental illness characterized by recurrent major depressive episodes and mania or hypomania. In addition to the burden of the disease and its consequences, self-stigma can impact people with bipolar disorder. This review investigates the current state of research in self-stigma in bipolar disorder.

METHODS

An electronic search was carried out until February 2022. Three academic databases were systematically searched, and best-evidence synthesis was made.

RESULTS

Sixty-six articles were related to self-stigma in bipolar disorder. Seven key themes were extracted from these studies: 1/ Comparison of self-stigma in bipolar disorder and other mental illnesses, 2/ Sociocultural context and self-stigma, 3/ Correlates and predictors of self-stigma, 4/ Consequences of self-stigma, 5/ Treatments and self-stigma, 6/ Management of self-stigma, and 7/ Self-stigma and recovery in bipolar disorder.

LIMITATIONS

Firstly, a meta-analysis could not be performed due to the heterogeneity of the studies. Secondly, limiting the search to self-stigma has excluded other forms of stigma that also have an impact. Thirdly, the under-reporting of negative or nonsignificant results due to publication bias and unpublished studies might have limited the accuracy of this reviews' synthesis.

CONCLUSION

Research on self-stigma in persons with bipolar disorder has been the focused on different aspects, and interventions to reduce self-stigmatization have been developed, but evidence of their effectiveness is still sparse. Clinicians need to be attentive to self-stigma, its assessment, and its empowerment in their daily clinical practice. Future work is required to establish valid strategies to fight self-stigma.

'The Button Question': A mixed-methods study of whether patients want to keep or remove bipolar disorder and the reasons for their decision

BACKGROUND

Many people with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder associate positive qualities with their condition, which may place a ceiling on the effectiveness of treatment and the likelihood of recovery. However, the extent to which patients would, or would not, want to be free of their bipolar disorder has not been directly assessed.

METHOD

An international online survey of 103 people (80 female, 23 male) with bipolar disorder assessed whether they would want to permanently remove their bipolar disorder with a 'button press', as well as whether they would do the same if the effect was reversible. We also coded and analysed free-text reasons for their decisions.

RESULTS

A total of 75 individuals (73%) would permanently remove their bipolar disorder and most of these did not report that bipolar disorder was part of their identity. A smaller number, 49 (48%) of the sample, would 'switch off' their bipolar disorder if the effect was reversible and most of these individuals reported enhanced qualities and the 'fun' of mania. Distinct positive and negative qualities of bipolar disorder were identified.

CONCLUSIONS

This mixed-method analysis has revealed wide variation and contrasts in attitudes. There is a sizeable minority of individuals who would not wish to remove their bipolar disorder for specific reasons, and knowledge of these reasons can inform approaches to interventions that are tailored to the individual.

Changes in daily manifestations of Openness to Experience during intensive cognitive-behavioral treatment

OBJECTIVE

Research examining relationships between trait Openness to Experience, psychopathology, and well-being has produced contradictory findings. Examining temporary manifestations of Openness may provide further insight into the interplay between Openness and symptoms in clinical populations.

METHOD

The present study validated a brief new measure to assess daily Openness in 271 adults (M_age = 34 years, 52% women, 83% White) taking part in 7 days of intensive treatment for acute psychopathology. Participants also completed a daily measure of depressive symptoms.

RESULTS

Participants overall experienced a significant but small increase in daily Openness during treatment. Two latent classes best characterized initial levels and trajectories of Openness in this sample: medium/increase (86% of sample) and low/decrease (14%). Daily Openness negatively related to depressive symptoms over the entire course of treatment and at the daily level. Daily Openness, however, did not predict depressive symptoms from one day to the next (or vice versa).

CONCLUSIONS

Results of this study contribute to the scientific understanding of positive personality change during challenging life circumstances. Future research could examine whether targeting Openness as part of treatment holds clinical value. Findings are limited by this study's short time frame and the lack of ethnoracial diversity in this sample.

Nursing students' relationships among meaning in life, well-being, and positive beliefs: A cross-sectional survey study

Nursing educators have a core responsibility to develop nursing students' health promotion. The purpose of this study was to explore nursing students regarding their relationships among meaning in life, well-being, and positive beliefs. A cross-sectional survey design was adopted in this study. Purposive sampling was used. A total of 219 nursing students participated in the study. Quantitative analysis was utilized for the data analyses. The study found that nursing students had the following mean scores on the meaning in life, 4.33 (86.60%) standard deviation (SD) 0.79; well-being, 4.23 (84.60%) SD 0.78; and positive beliefs, 4.32 (86.40%) SD 0.75. The nursing students' characteristics, meaning in life, and well-being explained 79% of the variance in positive beliefs (adjusted R = 0.79, F = 114.57, P < .001). Nursing educators can promote meaning in life and well-being to nursing students as an effective way to increase their positive beliefs.