Perceived stigma as a predictor of treatment discontinuation in young and older outpatients with depression

Objective: The authors' goal was to examine the extent to which perceived stigma affected treatment discontinuation in young and older adults with major depression. Method: A two-stage sampling design identified 92 new admissions of outpatients with major depression. Perceived stigma was assessed at admission. Discontinuation of treatment was recorded at 3-month follow-up. Results: Although younger patients reported perceiving more stigma than older patients, stigma predicted treatment discontinuation only among the older patients. Conclusions: Patients' perceptions of stigma at the start of treatment influence their subsequent treatment behavior. Stigma is an appropriate target for intervention aimed at improving treatment adherence and outcomes.