Self-stigmatization phenomenon in patients with somatoform disorders (clinical and psychological aspects)

Introduction: the rationale for studying self-stigmatization phenomenon in patients with somatoform disorders (SD) is associated with their delayed seeking for specialized psychiatric attention and subsequent ineffective treatment. Goal of research: to study clinical and psychological features of patients’ self-stigmatization in the dynamics of somatoform disorder, to develop a program for destigmatization. Methods: clinical and psychopathologic; psychodiagnostic (self-stigmatization questionnaire, methods for studying personal identity (MSPI); methods of data statistical processing. Results: we have proposed clinical manifestations of self-stigmatization phenomenon and described a number of psychological features. In the dynamics of somatoform disorder they undergo certain changes: at the initial stages it is a pronounced self-stigmatization, fears and anticipation of consequences from the society due to the diagnosis of mental illness, a change in habitual behavior, and lack of plans for the nearest future...