The Effect of Internalized Stigma on Social Anxiety, Functioning and
Subjective Recovery after Group Cognitive Interventions for
First-Episode Psychosis
Abstract
Aim To evaluate whether internalized stigma predicts social
anxiety, functioning, and subjective recovery in first episode psychosis
differently between group cognitive-behavioral therapy that addressed
internalized stigma and cognitive remediation. Methods Data was
derived from a randomized controlled trial comparing group
cognitive-behavioral therapy for social anxiety with group cognitive
remediation in 96 first-episode psychosis participants (18-35 years)
with social anxiety disorder. Social anxiety, internalized stigma,
functioning, and subjective recovery were assessed at baseline,
post-intervention, three and six months later. Results Linear
mixed models revealed a significant positive effect of internalized
stigma on social anxiety, functioning, and subjective recovery, with no
significant interaction between internalized stigma and treatment group,
nor with each time point for all three outcomes. Conclusion
Results show that internalized stigma did predict improved outcomes but
was not specific to group cognitive-behavioral therapy, relative to
group cognitive remediation in the current sample, suggesting a general
therapeutic benefit of group therapy.