CORRELATES OF SELF-STIGMA AMONG OUTPATIENTS WITH MENTAL ILLNESS IN LAGOS, NIGERIA

Background: Studies in this region have all been limited to public stigma whereas little is known about the extent of self-stigma. Aims: To assess the extent, domains and correlates of self-stigma among psych-iatric outpatients in Lagos, Nigeria. Method: Psychiatric outpatients (n = 342) from three centres completed a modifi ed version of the Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness scale (ISMI) as a measure of their self-stigma. They were also evaluated for various sociodemographic and clinical related variables. Results: A total of 74 (n = 21.6%) patients were classifi ed as having ‘high self-stigma’. The correlates of high self-stigma included unemployment (OR 3.85, 95% CI 2.55–7.00), poor social support (OR 10.82, 95 % CI 4.85–24.84), longer duration of illness (OR 10.35, 95 % CI 4.36–25.78) and having full insight into the illnes