1 - (SYM 73) the Impact of Psychiatric Labeling Among College Students with DSM-5 Psychopathology

Background. According to the modified labeling theory of mental disorders, receiving a psychiatric diagnosis can act as an “official label” that causes public attitudes about mental disorders to become personally relevant to a patient, potentially triggering concerns about being stigmatized, which may have negative psychosocial and clinical consequences. Internalizing negative attitudes about mental disorders has been linked to reduced subjective well-being and reduced willingness to seek treatment in college students – a population with a recent surge in psychological problems. However, little is known about the implications of psychiatric labels for self-reported symptoms or functional impairment, and researchers have highlighted the need for this type of study, particularly among students.

Methods. 269 students were clinically screened using the MINI interview and completed self-report measures of anxiety, depression, stress, impulsivity, affective tone, and self-efficacy. Participants also provided information about their mental health background including any previous diagnosis established by a psychiatrist or a psychologist. Prior diagnosis and lack thereof were used to categorize participants into “label” and “no-label” groups, respectively, and participants were not informed if the interview led to a current DSM diagnosis.

Results. Participants meeting criteria for at least one DSM disorder differed on only one outcome measure from those with no current DSM disorder, regardless of labeling status. However, examining only participants with an interview-based current DSM disorder, those with a prior diagnosis (label) differed from those reporting no prior diagnosis (no-label), having significantly higher self-reported stress (d= 0.96, p< .001), anxious arousal (d=0.55, p=.03), general distress (d=0.52, p=.04), negative affect (d=0.64, p</em>=.01), functional impairments (d=0.52 p</em>=.03), and lower self-efficacy (d=0.53 p</em>=.01).

Conclusion. Echoing previous research, since all participants in both the label and no-label groups met criteria for at least one current DSM diagnosis, the increased functional impairments, self-reported symptoms, and lower self-efficacy in the label group may be attributable at least in part to labeling itself, including expectancy effects related to awareness of their diagnosis. These results support the need to identify and address the consequences of psychiatric labeling among students clearly and directly.