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Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Scale (ISMI-9)

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

Understand how much self-stigma may be affecting your self-esteem and social confidence in about 2 minutes. Nine quick items give clear, actionable insight to track barriers to support and guide care.

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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

13,893 views

1,791 completion

1,430 likes

Verified by Daniel Hall

Psychologist with 25 years of experience

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How the Scales are Structured

example score

3/4

Internalized Self-Stigma Severity (ISSS)

Measures the severity of internalized stigma by assessing how strongly a person endorses negative stereotypes about mental illness as applying to themselves.

Minimal–Low

Moderate

Pronounced

1 – 2.5: Minimal–Low | 2.51 – 3: Moderate | 3.01 – 4: Pronounced

A score of 3 indicates a moderate level of self-stigmatization, suggesting notable internalized negative beliefs that may affect self-esteem and social self-perception.

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DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

Living with a diagnosis

44%OF USERS

People managing a mental health condition take it to see how much shame or self-blame is getting in the way of support and recovery.

Therapy or counseling clients

33%OF USERS

People already in treatment use it to quickly track changes in self-esteem and internal barriers over time.

Neurological condition patients

23%OF USERS

People with neurological issues take it to understand whether stigma-related beliefs are affecting their confidence, social life, or willingness to seek help.

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

RESULTS YOU CAN ACTUALLY USE

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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.

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

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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

1.9

Normal range

1.4 — 2.4

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.

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CLEAR ANSWERS TO COMMON QUESTIONS

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this questionnaire measure?

It measures the degree to which a person has internalized negative beliefs about having a mental or neurological condition. It focuses on self-esteem and perceived social value.

Who is this questionnaire intended for?

It is intended for people living with mental disorders and for people with neurological conditions. It may also be used in research or clinical monitoring settings.

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

It includes 9 statements and typically takes about 2 minutes to complete. Most respondents can finish it in one sitting.

How should responses be completed?

Read each statement and select the option that best reflects the level of agreement. Use the first response that fits and avoid overthinking any single item.

How are results used and what are the limits of interpretation?

Results help identify internal barriers that may affect willingness to seek support and can be used to track change over time. Scores do not provide a diagnosis and should be interpreted with other clinical information.

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 degree to which individuals endorse internalized stigma related to mental illness. The Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Scale (ISMI-9) is intended to support clinical and research evaluation of self-stigmatizing beliefs that may affect self-esteem, social identity, and engagement in care.

Developed by David L. Penn, it consists of 9 items and typically requires about 2 minutes to complete. Results from the Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Scale (ISMI-9) may be used to characterize internal barriers to help-seeking and to monitor change over time as part of a broader assessment battery.

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

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

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