Weerbaarheid tegen stigmatisering bij mensen met een ernstige psychiatrische aandoening.

Stigmatization is a social phenomenon in which people are approached using attributes that are assumed to be right but are not always applicable to the individual.

This study evaluates the effectiveness of an intervention that combines psycho-education and coping skill training developed in collaboration with consumers.

The Psycho-Education/Coping Skills Training is effective in reducing the negative consequences of stigma in people with a severe mental illness:

1. Increasing quality of life;

2. Improving social functioning;

3. Reducing needs for care.

1. Baseline;

2. Post treatment (10 weeks);

3. Follow up (2 months later).

Experimental:

Innovative psycho-education and coping skills training consisting of 10 meetings of 1-1,5 hours (8-10 participants). There will be discussions on topics around coping with stigmatizing and psychosis (psycho-education) and copingskills will be practiced. Part of the exercises contain elements of cognitive behavioral therapy.



Control:

Befriending in newspaper reading group. This will consist of 10 meeting of 1-1,5 hours (8-10 participants). Social topics will be discussed using newspapers/news and exercises will be executed regarding readingskills.



Both conditions are executed by pairs of workers and experts. They will be repeated under D-STIGMI.