Expanded-Coming-Out-Proud Group on Reducing Self-stigma for People with Severe Mental Illness— A Randomized Control Trial with Six-month Follow-up

Objectives. The aim of this study was to evaluate the longer-term impact of a 12-session Expanded Coming Out Proud (ECOP) delivered by social worker with the skills of empowerment and transformation of negative self-stigmatising beliefs to reduce self-stigma in people with severe mental illness. Methods . This study was a multicentre, randomized controlled trial with 6-month follow-up. The intervention group received the ECOP in addition to treatment as usual (TAU), which included interest classes and recreational activities, while the control group received TAU. Results. Group x time repeated measures of analysis of covariance demonstrated that the ECOP, as compared with the control group, was effective on helping people with high self-stigma to achieve significant larger improvement in self-stigma, depressive symptoms and self-esteem at post-intervention, with these intervention effects being well sustained up to 6-month follow-up. Conclusion. The results of this study demonstrate the efficacy of the ECOP on improving self-stigma.