Bilgic, AsliKaraman, Bilge FettahliogluDemirseren, Duriye DenizCinar, LeventKacar, NidaErmertcan, Aylin TürelAlpsoy, Erkan2025-05-102025-05-1020231018-86651421-983210.1159/0005291942-s2.0-85159574817https://doi.org/10.1159/000529194https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14720/10527Durmaz, Koray/0000-0002-8636-9866; Donmez, Levent/0000-0002-5970-8658; Kilinc, Fadime/0000-0001-9137-2675; Cevirgen Cemil, Bengu/0000-0002-2013-8635; Kaya Ozden, Hatice/0000-0003-0203-272X; Cinar, Levent/0000-0002-3708-2412; Demirseren, Duriye Deniz/0000-0002-4480-7792Background: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) causes significant physical, social, and psychological burdens. Internalized stigma, acceptance of negative attitudes and stereotypes of society regarding a person's illness, has not been studied previously in HS. Objectives: The objective of this study was to investigate the internalized stigma state of HS patients and identify the factors affecting it. Methods: This multicenter, prospective, cross-sectional study included 731 patients. Internalized Stigma Scale (ISS), Hurley staging, Physician Global Assessment, Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), Skindex-16, Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), and Visual Analog Scale (VAS)-pain score were used in the study. Results: The mean ISS value (57.50 +/- 16.90) was comparable to the mean ISS values of studies in visible dermatological and various psychiatric diseases. A significant correlation was found between the mean values of ISS and all disease activity scores, quality of life measures, BDI-II, and VAS-pain scores. Obesity, family history, low education and income level, vulva/scrotum involvement and being actively treated are significant and independent predictive factors for high internalized stigma in multivariate analysis. Conclusions: HS patients internalize society's negative judgements, which may create a profound negative effect on access to health care. Therefore, in addition to suppressing disease activity, addressing internalized stigma is fundamental for improving health care quality.eninfo:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccessHidradenitis SuppurativaInternalized StigmaQuality Of LifePsychodermatologyArticle2393Q2Q144545336702103WOS:000972961400001