TABLE 2.
Twenty six items of the six‐factor solution
| Scale | Item‐nr. | Item description |
|---|---|---|
| Self‐acceptance/positive clarification | 8 | The diagnosis helps me to accept myself |
| 9 | Since I am aware of my diagnosis, I am able to better understand my experiences and behaviour | |
| 11 | Because of my diagnosis I better understand how my life came to be | |
| 12 | The diagnosis helps me to recognize my problems | |
| Empowerment | 13 | The diagnosis helps me to realize that I can do something myself to get better |
| 14 | The diagnosis gives me hope that it can be treated | |
| 15 | My diagnosis is a challenge in my life which I will face up to | |
| 16 | Others have overcome this diagnosis that gives me hope | |
| Higher meaning/inner growth | 53 | I have grown through the confrontation with my diagnosis |
| 55 | I think that the diagnosis has a higher meaning | |
| 56 | Since I've been dealing with the diagnosis, I am able to live more aware and intense than before | |
| 58 | Before I dealt with the diagnosis, I was more unreflective and superficial than I am now | |
| Over‐identification | 22 | The diagnosis makes me special |
| 23 | My diagnosis is ‘cool’ | |
| 24 | I am proud of having this diagnosis | |
| 25 | Even though I am going to therapy, something would be missing, if I did not have the diagnosis | |
| Self‐stigmatization | 34 | My diagnosis is a blemish |
| 35 | My diagnosis makes me less valuable than others | |
| 36 | I'm ashamed of myself to other people for my diagnosis | |
| 37 | For others, I'm just the lunatic no one wants anything to do with | |
| 38 | I regard being mentally ill as a personal weakness | |
| Secondary gains | 41 | If suddenly I would not have the diagnosis anymore, I would have to cope with unpleasant things |
| 46 | I sometimes use my diagnosis to get more attention | |
| 48 | I think it is good that, due to the diagnosis, I get excused from some everyday responsibilities | |
| 51 | I think it is good that, due to my diagnosis, many decisions are being taken over by others | |
| 52 | Because of my diagnosis I can just stay in bed and let others take care of me |
Note: The instrument was evaluated in German language. Translation was based on Brislin (1970). One bilingual student blindly translated the instrument from German to English. Another bilingual student independently back‐translated the instrument. Both versions were compared for concept equivalence, discrepancies were discussed and resolved.