Efficacy of Coming Out Proud to reduce stigma's impact among people with mental illness: pilot randomised controlled trial. (May 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rüsch, Nicolas; Abbruzzese, Elvira; Hagedorn, Eva; Hartenhauer, Daniel; Kaufmann, Ilias; Curschellas, Jan; Ventling, Stephanie; Zuaboni, Gianfranco; Bridler, René; Olschewski, Manfred; Kawohl, Wolfram; Rössler, Wulf; Kleim, Birgit; Corrigan, Patrick W.
• Is Part Of: British journal of psychiatry. Volume 204:Number 5(2014)
• Page Start: 391
• Page End: 397
• Publication Date: 2014-05
• Subjects: Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Psychology, Pathological -- Periodicals; 616.89005
• DOI: 10.1192/bjp.bp.113.135772
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0007-1250

Abstract

Abstract : Background: Facing frequent stigma and discrimination, many people with mental illness have to choose between secrecy and disclosure in different settings. Coming Out Proud (COP), a 3-week peer-led group intervention, offers support in this domain in order to reduce stigma's negative impact. Aims: To examine COP's efficacy to reduce negative stigma-related outcomes and to promote adaptive coping styles (Current Controlled Trials number: ISRCTN43516734). Method: In a pilot randomised controlled trial, 100 participants with mental illness were assigned to COP or a treatment-as-usual control condition. Outcomes included self-stigma, empowerment, stigma stress, secrecy and perceived benefits of disclosure. Results: Intention-to-treat analyses found no effect of COP on self-stigma or empowerment, but positive effects on stigma stress, disclosure-related distress, secrecy and perceived benefits of disclosure. Some effects diminished during the 3-week follow-up period. Conclusions: Coming Out Proud has immediate positive effects on disclosure- and stigma stress-related variables and may thus alleviate stigma's negative impact.