Reduce TBI Stigma to Improve Patient Outcomes
Executive Brief
- The News: 5 million Americans live with TBI-related disability
- Clinical Win: Reducing internalized stigma may increase social engagement
- Target Specialty: Rehabilitation specialists for TBI patients
Key Data at a Glance
Condition: Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
Prevalence: More than 5 million Americans
Sample size (N=): 84 adults with TBI
Key finding: Internalized stigma affects health and behavior
Risk factor: Public stigma and discrimination
Key recommendation: Education and empowerment
Reduce TBI Stigma to Improve Patient Outcomes
More than 5 million Americans are living with permanent TBI-related disability related to traumatic brain injury, which can severely impact quality of life. Unfortunately, people with TBI are often socially stigmatized because of their disability.
This public stigma may cause people with TBI to believe they are somehow inferior or less worthy than people without disabilities, a phenomenon known as internalized stigma. Umesh Venkatesan, Ph.D., a researcher at Jefferson Moss Rehabilitation Research Institute, and collaborators wanted to examine the extent to which discrimination, a type of public stigma, is internalized by people living with TBI. The study assessed the potential consequences of internalized stigma on their health and behavior.
In their study, Dr. Venkatesan and his colleagues administered questionnaires assessing perceived discrimination and internalized stigma to 84 adults with TBI.
The research is published in the Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation.
Their data suggest that there are different levels of stigma internalization, in that some people with TBI may be more likely than others with TBI to think and feel negatively about themselves when encountering discrimination due to their disability. Additionally, the researchers found evidence of a "why try" attitude, where people with TBI who experience high levels of internalized disability stigma may not even attempt certain tasks or engage in social activities because of a fear of failure.
This process could have major health implications for people with TBI, increasingly isolating and alienating them from general society.
Although this study did not test any solutions to public or internalized disability stigma, it highlights a problem that significantly impacts the lives of people with TBI and should be addressed.
"Continued work on internalized stigma ultimately will allow us to develop interventions to help people cope with public stigma and cultivate more adaptive beliefs about themselves. Education and empowerment are critical," says Dr. Venkatesan.
Clinical Perspective — Dr. Suresh Menon, Urology
Workflow: As I work with patients who have traumatic brain injury (TBI), I'm now more aware of the potential for internalized stigma, which can impact their daily lives. With over 5 million Americans living with TBI-related disability, it's crucial I consider this aspect in my interactions. I'd assess perceived discrimination and internalized stigma in my patients, as Dr. Venkatesan's study did with 84 adults with TBI.
Economics: The article doesn't address cost directly, but I recognize that internalized stigma can lead to social isolation and decreased participation in activities, potentially increasing healthcare utilization and costs in the long run. As a doctor, I'd consider the potential economic benefits of addressing internalized stigma in my patients with TBI.
Patient Outcomes: I'm concerned about the "why try" attitude that can develop in people with TBI who experience high levels of internalized disability stigma, leading to decreased social engagement and potential health implications. By acknowledging this issue, I can work to empower my patients and help them cultivate more adaptive beliefs about themselves, ultimately improving their quality of life and patient outcomes.
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