Research Information System
33. European Psychiatry Congress, Madrid, Spain, 5 - 08 April 2025, pp.648, (Summary Text)
Introduction: Individuals with psychiatric illnesses still face signifi-
cant stigma and discrimination around the world. These individuals
are reluctant to seek treatment due to fear of stigma, and when they
begin treatment, their exclusion from society is a significant obstacle
to their well-being. In order for individuals with mental illness to live
in a society without stigma and discrimination, it is important to
increase the knowledge and understanding of that society towards
mental illnesses and develop positive attitudes. Depression is quite
common and is the mental disorder that causes the most disability.
Objectives: This study aimed to measure the relationship between
individuals’ level of knowledge about depression, seeking psycho-
logical help and stigmatization.
Methods: The study group consisted of individuals who were diag-
nosed with major depression according to DSM 5-TR diagnostic
criteria and applied to Eskişehir Osmangazi University Psychiatry
Outpatient Clinic where the study would be conducted. The Ham-
ilton Depression Rating Scale, Depression Knowledge Test, Stigma
Scale, Attitudes Towards Seeking Professional Psychological Help
Scale-Revised Form and Stigma Towards Seeking Psychological Help
Scale were administered to the participants. Currently, 33 individuals
were included in this study, and this number is planned to be 60 by
the congress date. The study was supported by Eskişehir Osmangazi
University Scientific Research Project (TOA-2023-2665).
Results: A total of 33 people were included in the study, 25 (75.8%)
female and 8 (24.2%) male. The average age of the participants,
ranging from 20 to 65 years old, was 41.48. The mean HAM-D scale
score was 14.97. Education levels were calculated in years, and the
mean years of education of the participants were determined to be
12.44 (5-20). According to the preliminary results of this study, a
negative and significant relationship was found between depression
knowledge level and stigma (rspearman: -,466, p: ,006). A negative
and significant relationship was found between stigma and atti-
tudes towards seeking psychological help (rspearman: -,308, p: ,029),
and a positive and significant relationship was found between
stigma and social stigma due to seeking psychological help
(rspearman: -,354, p: ,043).
Conclusions: Stigma and stigmatization in mental illnesses are a
major obstacle to diagnosis and treatment. In our study, prelimin-
ary data support the literature and show a relationship between
depression knowledge level and stigma, and between stigma and
psychological help-seeking behavior. These preliminary results
show that psychoeducation interventions may have an important
role. Results from 60 people will be presented at the congress.
Disclosure of Interest: None Declared