Article archive / August 1, 2014
Originally published: . Volume 5, No. 12. Source pages: 12.
Dr. Paula Varnado-Sullivan Stigmatization of Mental Health Labels Kaly Solek, Ashley Rohner, Mary White, Allison Battaglia
Dr. Paula Varnado-Sullivan, Associate Professor and Graduate Coordinator at Southeastern Louisiana University, will present in the research poster session, “Issues in Clinical Practice, Training, Psychotherapy, Dissemination, and Implementation.”
Varnado-Sullivan’s work is titled, “Does a Diagnostic Label Impact the Stigmatization of Anorexia Nervosa?” She has worked with co- authors Kaly Solek, Ashley Rohner, Mary White, and Allison Battaglia.
The study included two comparison conditions, major depression and a normal control. Vignettes were developed describing a person with and without a diagnostic label, and over one thousand undergraduates rated the fictional person. There were no differences between major depression and anorexia nervosa.
“My research here lately has been on the stigmatization of psychological disorders and eating disorders particularly,” Varnado-Sullivan told the Times. “One thing I had noticed was there was a lot of inconsistency in the methodology used. This study looks at whether the diagnostic label would be rated more harshly than a description of the behaviors.”
While some of the results are difficult to interpret, “The gist though is that psychological disorders are stigmatized,” Dr. Varnado-Sullivan said.
“It does seem that the label alone may bias attitudes and the presentation of a descriptor of the behaviors may temper attitudes. I think the main importance is that no matter how we present the information, anorexia nervosa is not admired. However, I think that the general public does not realize when thin is too thin.” Dr. Varnado-Sullivan said she is hoping to study that theme next.
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