Is Being “Sick” Really Better? Effect of the Disease View of Mental Disorder on Stigma

Mehta, Sheila; Farina, Amerigo

doi:10.1521/jscp.1997.16.4.405

Cited by 212 publications

(141 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…The question is whether in these mild cases the merits of a confirmed diagnosis—such as acknowledgement of problems and access to help—outweigh possible demerits. Some known disadvantages of a diagnosis are: low teacher and parent expectations that become self-fulfilling prophecies (Pygmalion/Golem effect); prejudice and stigmatization of diagnosed children; children applying stereotypes to themselves, leading to self-stigma and low self-esteem; decline of self-efficacy; a less effective and potentially counter-effective focus on fixed traits instead of behaviours; a more passive role towards problems; difficulties getting life and disability insurances later on in life; and the risk of overlooking contextual, social and societal explanations, due to the specious explanation offered by labelling (Batstra et al, 2012; Cimpian, Arce, Markman, & Dweck, 2007; Heyman & Dweck, 1992; Kamins & Dweck, 1999; Mehta & Farina, 1997; O’Rourke, Haimovitz, Ballweber, Dweck, & Popović, 2014). For these reasons caution is advisable when considering psychiatric classifications for children.…”

Section: A Diagnosis Can Be Harmful For Childrenmentioning

confidence: 99%

ADHD: a critical update for educational professionals

Meerman

Batstra

Grietens

et al. 2017

International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well

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A medical approach towards behavioural problems could make professionals without a medical background, like teachers and other educational professionals feel inapt. In this article, we raise six scientifically grounded considerations regarding ADHD, currently the most prevalent childhood psychiatric diagnosis. These “need to knows” show just how misguided and potentially stigmatizing current conceptualizations of unruly behaviour have become. Some examples are given of how teachers are misinformed, and alternative ways of reporting about neuropsychological research are suggested. A reinvigorated conceptual understanding of ADHD could help educational institutions to avoid the expensive outsourcing of behavioural problems that could also—and justifiably better—be framed as part of education’s primary mission of professionalized socialization.

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Section: A Diagnosis Can Be Harmful For Childrenmentioning

confidence: 99%

ADHD: a critical update for educational professionals

Meerman

Batstra

Grietens

et al. 2017

International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well

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show abstract

“…Spirituality, as a relationship construct, can be sought through relationships with a higher power, but also through the relationship with the self [19] [20] [21]. As a facet of spirituality, self-understanding seems to be an important for mental health care, stigma, and yoga [22]. Research shows that education about mental illness helps reduce experiences with stigma in certain populations [23], thus with further self-understanding, greater mental health can be attained.…”

Section: Body Mind Spirit Approachmentioning

confidence: 99%

Enhancing Holistic Identity through Yoga: Investigating Body-Mind-Spirit Interventions on Mental Illness Stigma across Culture–A Case Study

McKibben¹,

Nan²

2017

OJN

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Objective: Mental illness stigma plagues many individuals with mental health issues such as depression. Labels attributed to the mentally ill focus on meeting diagnostic criterion, increase association with mental illness identities, and do not always promote greater wellbeing. Body-Mind-Spirit (BMS) interventions for depression address mental health without promoting stigmatizing labels. This study identifies how yoga can help to reduce mental illness stigma, and examines the effectiveness of a yoga intervention conducted by an expatriate in a cross-cultural context. Methods: This study took a qualitative research approach to examine the effectiveness of a four-week yoga class as an alternative Body-Mind-Spirit (BMS) intervention on participant Jenny (pseudonym) by a licensed yoga instructor and expatriate. Interpretive content analysis of post-intervention interviews, and subjective observational analysis throughout the yoga classes captured the movements of Body-Mind-Spirit as well as their impacts on the participant's perceptions of mental illness and the change through yoga practice. Results: Some specific themes from the participant's narratives were identified that could give light to the mechanism of change through yoga that stifles mental illness stigma, transforms identity, and enhances attention. Conclusion and implications for practice: Most notably, changes occurred through the physical to psychological axis of wellbeing, indicating some symbolic mechanism in yoga that facilitates the flow of information from the body to the mind. As Jenny's awareness of her body deepened, her association with a stigmatizing mental illness identity decreased. Although this study was limited in its generalizability, it shows an increased understanding of how identity is an important link between BMS interventions and mental illness stigma. Furthermore these findings suggest that there is a need for rigorous research in the effectiveness of yoga on mental ill-

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“…Some leading researchers have argued that increased public acceptance of a neurobiological conception of addiction will have important ethical implications for reducing stigma and thereby improving treatment outcomes for addicted individuals (Lebowitz and Ahn, 2012), beliefs that are used to justify neuroscience education campaigns (Vrecko, 2010a). Some empirical studies support the possibility of realising the destigmatising aspirations of addiction neuroscience proponents (Furnham and Rees, 1988;Mehta and Farina, 1997), whereas more recent studies do not (Lam et al, 2005;Angermeyer et al, 2011).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

What does ‘acceptance’ mean? Public reflections on the idea that addiction is a brain disease

et al. 2013

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Public responses to the dissemination of neuroscientific explanations of addiction and other mental disorders are an interesting sociocultural phenomenon. We investigated how 55 members of the Australian public deliberated on the idea that 'addiction is a brain disease'. Our findings point to the diverse ways in which the public understands and utilises this proposition. Interviewees readily accepted that drugs affect brain functioning but were ambivalent about whether to label addiction as a 'disease'. Contrary to the prediction of neuroscientific advocates and social science critics, acceptance of a neurobiological conception of addiction did not necessarily affect beliefs about addicted persons' responsibility for their addiction. We discuss the theoretical and applied implications of these findings. Theoretically, we examine the complexity surrounding how people adopt new knowledge and its role in reshaping ethical beliefs. We also discuss the implications of these findings for the ethics of communication of neuroscientific information to reduce stigma and enhance social support for the treatment of addicted individuals.

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Is Being “Sick” Really Better? Effect of the Disease View of Mental Disorder on Stigma

Cited by 212 publications

References 28 publications

ADHD: a critical update for educational professionals

ADHD: a critical update for educational professionals

Enhancing Holistic Identity through Yoga: Investigating Body-Mind-Spirit Interventions on Mental Illness Stigma across Culture–A Case Study

What does ‘acceptance’ mean? Public reflections on the idea that addiction is a brain disease

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