The Mental Illness Self-Labeling Model: A Conceptual Model for Studying the Effects of Mental Illness Self-Labeling on Clinical Outcomes

Self-labeling with a mental illness, for example deciding that one “has depression,” has the potential to impact clinical outcomes through multiple cognitive and behavioral pathways. Despite such possibilities, little empirical research has examined these pathways. We propose a conceptual model, which we call the mental illness self-labeling model, that can be used to study the clinical consequences of mental illness self-labeling. We begin by reviewing existing literature on self-labeling, including sociological research on modified labeling theory, and how it can be leveraged to support the conceptual approach we propose. We then outline the proposed model, articulating how self-labeling can cause beliefs about mental illnesses to be internalized, and how subsequent changes in psychological mediators (such as perceived control, self-blame, and others) can have downstream effects on clinical outcomes. Our model provides a conceptual framework and methodological toolkit for researchers interested in investigating the clinical consequences of mental illness self-labeling.