Stigma and Attitudes toward Patients with Psychiatric Illness among Postgraduate Indian Physicians

Abstract

Background: Due to paucity of psychiatrists in India, psychiatric patients often present to other doctors. We aimed to study nonpsychiatric residents’ attitude and stigma toward psychiatric patients. Methods: A total of 57 postgraduate trainees participated in a cross-sectional study in a tertiary hospital in New Delhi. Attitudes to psychiatric patients were assessed using the attitude to mental illness questionnaire (AMIQ) and the perceived stigma questionnaire. This was correlated with sociodemographic information. Results: Over 70% residents accepted mentally ill patients as friends and felt they were equally employable. However, AMIQ demonstrated a negative attitude towards patients with schizophrenia. Perceived competence in dealing with psychiatric patients was associated with adequate undergraduate exposure (Chi-square = 7.270, P = 0.026) and correlated with positive attitudes ( t -test, P = 0.0008). Conclusions: While the questionnaires revealed some prejudice toward psychiatric patients with schizophrenia, the postgraduate trainees who felt competent to deal with the mentally ill had the most positive attitudes toward them.

Mental illness attitudes and knowledge in non-specialist medical doctors working in state and private sectors

“…Those with more clinical experience 63 or a family member or friend with mental illness 7,11 were more sympathetic towards the mentally ill. However, Chandramouleeswaran et al 55 found that personal contact with an individual with a psychiatric condition did not increase the positivity of mental illness attitudes.…”

“…11,54 Studies have shown that increased exposure to mentally ill people leads to more positive attitudes. 55,56,57 It is also likely that PS doctors are more open to advocating for their mentally ill patients because of the lesser demands and time constraints of their work as compared with state-employed doctors.…”

“…It is noteworthy that positive attitudes towards mental illness appear to be associated with a better knowledge of mental illness and self-perceived competence in dealing with mental illness. 55,58 Negative attitudes appear to be associated with a lack of mental health training and a self-perceived lack of competence in managing mental illness. 15 Also, better knowledge appears to be associated with a more positive attitude.…”

Assessment of nursing students’ attitudes and stigma towards mental illness: A cross-sectional study

“…In addition, improved undergraduate training could lead to less stigmatization and better care for patients. [7] Furthermore, one of the most important impediments to progress in the development of mental health care is the stigma amongst health care providers. [8] According to Samari, Seow [9] perceived stigma amongst nurses towards mental illness and people with mental disorders can act as barriers to patients seeking treatment.…”

“…[2,10] Furthermore, there were limited studies measuring attitudes and perceived stigma among university students toward mental illness. [7] However, there were no studies assessing stigma and attitudes of nursing students towards mental illness and comparing students who have received a psychiatric course and clinical placement with those who have not. [11] Also, the majority of the studies were considered to be of only moderate quality according to the JBI critical appraisal tool.…”