Attitudes of Mental Health Professionals Toward People With Schizophrenia and Major Depression

Abstract

Several studies reveal poor knowledge about mental illness in the general population and stigmatizing attitudes toward people with mental illness. However, it is unknown whether mental health professionals hold fewer stigmatizing attitudes than the general population. A survey was conducted of the attitudes of mental health professionals (n = 1073) and members of the public (n = 1737) toward mental illness and their specific reaction toward a person with and without psychiatric symptoms ("non-case" as a reference category). Psychiatrists had more negative stereotypes than the general population. Mental health professionals accepted restrictions toward people with mental illness 3 times less often than the public. Most professionals were able to recognize cases of schizophrenia and depression, but 1 in 4 psychiatrists and psychologists also considered the non-case as mentally ill. The social distance toward both major depression and the non-case was lower than toward schizophrenia. However, in this regard, there was no difference between professionals and the public. The study concludes that the better knowledge of mental health professionals and their support of individual rights neither entail fewer stereotypes nor enhance the willingness to closely interact with mentally ill people.

The Influence of Causal Explanations and Diagnostic Labeling on Psychology Students’ Beliefs About Treatments, Prognosis, Dangerousness and Unpredictability in Schizophrenia

“…The main limitations of this study include: a) the inclusion of students from only one psychology school located in southern Italy, a region where healthcare resources are poorer and public prejudices towards mentally ill persons are higher than in other areas of the country (as cited in Magliano et al 2012); b) the focus only on beliefs regarding schizophrenia -one of the most stigmatised mental problem worldwide, together with alcohol and drug addictions (Henry et al 2010;Pescosolido et al 1999; -so its findings cannot be generalised to other mental disorders whose social acceptance by health professionals and the public is higher (Nordt et al 2006;Schomerus et al 2013); c) the fact that students' attendance to lessons is voluntary, therefore data cannot be generalised to not-attending students; d) the cross-sectional design that does not permit causal inferences regarding the effects of labelling and biogenetic explanations on stigmatizing attitudes. We plan to conduct further research on first-year students as a follow up to the current study; e) the failure to assess students' willingness to treat PWS; f) the poor reliability of the assessment questionnaire, whose psychometric properties we are now re-exploring, is a further significant limitation of this study.…”

“…Studies on this topic report that health professionals share the prejudices of the general public (Kvale et al 2013;Magliano et al 2004;Pescosolido et al 2010;Read & Harre 2001;Read et al 2013b;Speerfock et al 2014) including beliefs that PWS are dangerous, unpredictable, and affected by an incurable illness whose symptoms are socially and psychologically meaningless and out of the person's control (Nordt et al 2006;Deacon 2013;Reavley et al 2014). …”

Attitudes towards long-acting depot antipsychotics: A survey of patients, relatives and psychiatrists

“…It is a costly disease due to its early onset and chronicity, the high utilization of mental health care resources, the lost productivity and the enormous burden imposed on patients and relatives (Nordt et al, 2006). The prevention of relapses remain a major public health challenge and improvements in this area can have tremendous impact on morbidity, mortality and quality of life, as well as on direct and indirect health care costs.…”

Effects of a Documentary Film on Public Stigma Related to Mental Illness Among Genetic Counselors

“…Public stigma can have damaging effects for people with mental illness. For example, negative attitudes of mental health workers and psychiatrists towards individuals with mental illness has been associated with decreased use of needed healthcare services amongst individuals with mental illness, thus exacerbating the effects and symptoms of the illness on the individual (Lauber and Rossler 2007;Nordt et al 2006;Rusch et al 2005). …”