Experience of Stigma among Individuals with Schizophrenia Living in Hungary: A Phenomenological Study

Schizophrenia is one of the most severe psychiatric disorders, affecting approximately 0.3% to 0.7% of the global population. Individuals with schizophrenia need to deal with the symptoms, the impaired social functioning, the potential side effects of antipsychotic medications and the stigma associated with psychiatric disorders. Public stigma, self-stigma and structural stigma are identified as types of stigma that have major negative impacts on various aspects of life. The common misconceptions surrounding schizophrenia, such as multiple personalities, dangerousness, violence and unpredictability, contribute to the stigmatization. The aim of this study is to examine the subjective experience of stigma among individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia living in Hungary from a phenomenological perspective. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to explore the personal, interpersonal and social aspects of experiences related to stigma. The qualitative data was analyzed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). As a result of the data analysis, four master themes emerged: Judgment, Coping, Concealment and Acceptance, along with several sub-themes. The findings of the present study are similar to those of the literature, emphasizing the significant effects of stigma. The majority of research on the stigma of mental illness utilized quantitative methodologies, including the Hungarian-based studies. Therefore, the present study may enhance the existing literature by providing a deeper understanding of the concept of stigma attached to schizophrenia using a qualitative method.