Home
Psychological tests
Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Scale (ISMI-9)

Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Scale (ISMI-9) Test

Understand how strongly you’ve internalized stigma about your condition in about 2 minutes. Nine quick items give clear, clinically useful insight to guide support and strengthen self-worth.

Start Online Test

Questions: 92 minutes

Hi! My name is Freudly, i am an AI therapist, I will give you an interpretation of the test after you complete it.

08:30

October 2, 2025

October 2, 2025
Material has been updated

October 2, 2025
Material has been published

17,946 views

1,391 completion

1,133 likes

Verified by Daniel Hall

Psychologist with 25 years of experience

Scale Explorer

How the Scales are Structured

example score

2/4

Severity of Self-Stigma (SoSS)

Measures the severity of internalized self-stigma related to one’s mental or neurological condition.

None/Minimal

Low–Moderate

Pronounced

1 – 2: None/Minimal | 2.01 – 3: Low–Moderate | 3.01 – 4: Pronounced

A score of 2 indicates none to minimal self-stigmatization on this scale.

Start Online Test

just completed the test

DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

People with mental health diagnoses

44%OF USERS

They want to understand how much shame, self-blame, or fear of judgment about their condition affects daily life and recovery.

People with neurological conditions

33%OF USERS

They use it to check whether their diagnosis has led to self-stigma, withdrawal, or a drop in confidence.

Therapy and clinic clients

23%OF USERS

They take it at the request of a clinician to quickly pinpoint internalized stigma and choose the right focus for support.

BASED ON AGGREGATED, ANONYMIZED DATA FROM TENS OF THOUSANDS OF FREUDLY USERS.

RESULTS YOU CAN ACTUALLY USE

Scale Results
— Explained Clearly

Your scores across each test scale are translated into plain, usable insights. You won’t just get numbers — you’ll learn how your results impact your daily life, emotional state, and overall well-being.

AI-Powered
Interpretation

You’ll receive a structured, clinically-grounded explanation. Our AI analyzes patterns and relationships between scales to provide a coherent interpretation, without exaggerated language.

Statistical
Comparison

See how your results compare to others. Anonymized platform data is used to create a percentile scale, which identifies whether your results are typical.

Practical
Recommendations

You’ll receive clear, actionable guidance tailored to your profile. These easy-to-implement suggestions focus on coping, self-regulation, and realistic next steps.

AI-Powered
Insights

Get insights on behavioral and thought patterns you might not notice on your own. By uncovering subtle connections between your responses, you’ll better understand what may be driving your current results.

Discuss with
an AI Therapist

Clarify, reflect, and explore your results right away. Talk through your experience, ask questions, and explore meanings in a calm, non-diagnostic dialogue.

Start Online Test

Used in 52+ countries

Benchmarking

See How You Compare

Once you complete the test, your results are compared with real-world data from people in your country.
Below is a preview of how scores are typically distributed across each scale.

Degree of self-stigmatization (Dos)

Average

2.3

Normal range

1.8 — 2.8

min.

max.

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Start Online Test

Featured On

CLEAR ANSWERS TO COMMON QUESTIONS

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this questionnaire measure?

It assesses the degree of internalized stigma related to a psychiatric or neurological diagnosis. It focuses on negative self-beliefs such as shame, social withdrawal, and reduced self-worth.

How long does it take and how many items are included?

It includes 9 statements and typically takes about 2 minutes to complete. Responses are based on how true each statement feels overall.

Who is this questionnaire intended for?

It is intended for adults living with mental health or neurological conditions. Use is appropriate in clinical and research settings when self-stigma is a relevant concern.

How should responses be selected?

Select the option that best matches typical thoughts and feelings, not a single unusual day. Answer each item and avoid leaving blanks when possible.

How are results used?

Scores summarize the level of self-stigmatizing beliefs and attitudes. Results can guide planning for psychological support, including work on motivation, self-esteem, and social participation.

WHAT THE TEST MEASURES

About This Assessment

Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Scale (ISMI-9) Test - Symptoms and Signs

psychopathology stigmatization

This brief self-report measure assesses the extent to which an individual has internalized negative stereotypes and self-stigmatizing beliefs related to having a mental illness. The Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Scale (ISMI-9) is commonly used to support clinical formulation and research by characterizing the subjective impact of stigma on self-concept and social functioning.

The instrument includes 9 items and typically takes about 2 minutes to complete. Items are designed to capture core dimensions of internalized stigma (e.g., shame, alienation, and perceived discrimination), and results are generally interpreted as an indicator of severity to inform treatment planning and monitor change over time. The Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Scale (ISMI-9) is attributed to David L. Penn.

Author: David L. Penn, patrick-w-corrigan

Literature: Boyd, J. E., Adler, E. P., Otilingam, P. G., & Peters, T. Internalized stigma of mental illness (ISMI) scale: A multinational review. Comprehensive Psychiatry. 2014.

Test Question Form