Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UMLS:C0277787 (stigma)
 13,352 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

If adopted without adequate cause, the lifestyle of an invalid is a grave misfortune for the patient and for its reflection on current social attitudes that foster such states. Psychological illnesses are frequently invoked and are often a genuine source of suffering and disability. However, patients who may be rewarded by large financial settlements in courts, may also on occasion exaggerate their claims. Modern society has established systems of support, and rulings in court proceedings that conduce to illness behaviour. To some extent the portentous diagnostic labels given to these patients fosters rather than alleviates illness. It is probable that biological factors deriving from the primary event initiate the process. In medical terms, the symptoms and disabilities are often discrepant with the initial illness or injury. The patients' behaviour arises out of a desire to attain the sick role for secondary gain. If society eliminated the stigma of psychological illness, and opposed exaggeration and simulation of illness, then such chronic disability with 'retreat into illness' might disappear. Sometimes an assumed illness becomes an adopted way of life. The unfortunate patients may come to believe they are ill; symptoms then persist after settlement. It is wrong to blame everything on society and to deny the free choice of the individual. Nevertheless, the pressures of society can be difficult to withstand for those not gifted with resilience. We should also recognise and try to eliminate the contribution made by doctors and health workers who mistakenly aid and abet a 'culture' that promotes this state of chronic disability. If adopted without adequate cause, the lifestyle of an invalid is a grave misfortune for the patient and for its reflection on current social attitudes that foster such states. Psychological illnesses are frequently invoked and are often a genuine source of suffering and disability. However, patients who may be rewarded by large financial settlements in courts, may also on occasion exaggerate their claims. Modern society has established systems of support, and rulings in court proceedings that conduce to illness behaviour. To some extent the portentous diagnostic labels given to these patients fosters rather than alleviates illness. It is probable that biological factors deriving from the primary event initiate the process. In medical terms, the symptoms and disabilities are often discrepant with the initial illness or injury. The patients' behaviour arises out of a desire to attain the sick role for secondary gain. If society eliminated the stigma of psychological illness, and opposed exaggeration and simulation of illness, then such chronic disability with 'retreat into illness' might disappear. Sometimes an assumed illness becomes an adopted way of life. The unfortunate patients may come to believe they are ill; symptoms then persist after settlement. It is wrong to blame everything on society and to deny the free choice of the individual. Nevertheless, the pressures of society can be difficult to withstand for those not gifted with resilience. We should also recognise and try to eliminate the contribution made by doctors and health workers who mistakenly aid and abet a 'culture' that promotes this state of chronic disability
Med Sci Monit 2002 Dec
PMID:Psychosocial factors in chronic disability. 1250 47

BACKGROUND China is undergoing a rapid growth in the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic involving men who have sex with men (MSM). Reports about their health-related quality of life (HRQOL) are scarce. This study aimed to assess the HRQOL and factors influencing HIV-positive MSM in a city in the northeast of China. MATERIAL AND METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted in Harbin city (Heilongjiang, China). HIV-positive MSM (n=125) were interviewed using the WHOQOL-HIV-BRIEF scale, the Berger HIV Stigma Scale, and other HIV-related questionnaires from June to August 2013. RESULTS Among the 6 dimensions of the HRQOL, HIV-related stigma was negatively associated with psychological (r=-0.316, P=0.0003) and spirituality domains (r=-0.324, P=0.0002). Physician support was positively associated with independence domain (r=0.393, P<0.0001). Hostile mentality was associated with psychological (r=0.479, P<0.0001) and spirituality domains (r=0.431, P<0.0001). Adverse effects of HAART were significantly correlated with physical (r=-0.542, P<0.0001) and psychological (r=-0.554, P<0.0001) domains. Multiple logistic regression showed that stigma (odds ratio (OR)=1.251, 95% confidence interval (95%CI): 1.088-1.439, P=0.002) and adverse effects of HAART (OR=1.117, 95%CI: 1.069-1.167, P<0.0001) were independent risk factors for low HRQOL. Physician support (OR=0.961, 95%CI: 0.941-0.982, P=0.0002) and CD4+ counts >350 (OR=0.033, 95%CI: 0.005-0.208, P=0.001) were independent protective factors in MSM receiving HAART. Hostile mentality (OR=0.936, 95%CI: 0.906-0.967, P<0.0001) was an independent protective factor of HRQOL in MSM not receiving HAART. CONCLUSIONS Psychological factors such as HIV-related stigma, hostile mentality, and physician support have a significant effect on HRQOL in MSM. These findings suggest specific psychological interventions to improve HRQOL in HIV-positive MSM in China.
Med Sci Monit 2016 Aug 14
PMID:Health-Related Quality of Life in HIV-Infected Men Who Have Sex with Men in China: A Cross-Sectional Study. 2752 66

BACKGROUND Doctors' empathy is closely related to patients' health. This study aimed to examine whether patients' stigma and self-efficacy play a mediating role in the relationship between doctors' empathy abilities and patients' cellular immunity in male patients with breast cancer. MATERIAL AND METHODS Doctors' empathy scores and patients' demographic data, disease condition, stigma, and self-efficacy were measured. Patient T cell subset was tested at admission and 3 months after the operation and was compared by paired t test. The multivariate linear regression model was applied to analyze the factors influencing the immune index. Pearson correlation analysis and structural equation modeling were applied to explore the relationships among patients' stigma, self-efficacy, and cellular immunity and doctors' empathy abilities. RESULTS At the 2 time points, only the change in NK subset was statistically significant, while the changes in percentage of CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, and B cells were not statistically significant. The doctors' empathy abilities were negatively correlated with patients' stigma and were positively related to patients' self-efficacy. Patients' stigma was negatively related to NK subset, while self-efficacy was positively associated with NK subset. Patients' stigma and self-efficacy played a mediating role in the relationship between doctors' empathy abilities and patients' NK subset, and stigma had a stronger effect than self-efficacy. CONCLUSIONS Doctors' empathy abilities affected breast cancer patients' NK subset through their stigma and self-efficacy. The mental health of male breast cancer patients need more attention and empathy education needs to be improved.
Med Sci Monit 2018 Jun 12
PMID:Mediating Effects of Patients' Stigma and Self-Efficacy on Relationships Between Doctors' Empathy Abilities and Patients' Cellular Immunity in Male Breast Cancer Patients. 2989 32