medwireNews: Patients with psychosis with higher self-esteem have less awareness of the stereotypes associated with mental health patients and their families, research shows.
“Positive self-esteem is not only seen as a basic feature of mental health, but also as a protective factor that contributes to better mental health and positive social behavior through its role as a buffer against the impact of negative cognitions, emotions and dysfunctional behavioral responses,” say lead study author Catherine van Zelst (Maastricht University Medical Centre, the Netherlands) and colleagues.
They therefore believe that stereotype awareness and self-esteem may be worth targeting, particularly in patients with early psychosis symptoms.