Stigmatization of schizophrenia as perceived by nurses, medical doctors, medical students and patients

Abstract

Stigmatization of schizophrenia is widespread and its genetic explanation may potentially increase the stigma. The present study investigated whether seeing schizophrenia as a genetic or environmental disorder might influence perceived beliefs towards people with schizophrenia and whether social stigmatizing attitudes were differently perceived the 202 subjects who were recruited. Perceived social stigmatizing attitudes were compared among participants who read two vignettes depicting a person with schizophrenia. Then, the Standardized Stigmatization Questionnaire (SSQ) was administered. A genetic explanation of schizophrenia was more frequently associated with stigmatizing attitudes. Also, there were higher levels of perceived stigmatization in medical students and medical doctors than in other groups based on their social experience or background. However, the sample size was small and this was a non-experimental design; also the SSQ would benefit from more cross-validation. About half of the participants perceived stigmatizing social attitudes. Finally, considering schizophrenia as a genetic disorder influenced participants perception of other people's beliefs about dangerousness and unpredictability and people's desire for social distance.

The Variability of Nursing Attitudes Toward Mental Illness: An Integrative Review

“…Twelve studies were determined to be of high quality (Arvaniti et al, 2009; Chambers et al, 2010; Foster et al, 2008; Hamdan-Mansour & Wardam, 2009; Hsiao et al, 2015; Linden & Kavanagh, 2012; Magliano et al, 2004; Munro & Baker, 2007; Nordt, 2006; Scheerder et al, 2011; Serafini et al, 2011; Sevigny et al, 1999). One study score within the moderate quality range (Kukulu & Ergun, 2007).…”

“…Three studies reported positive attitudes (Chambers et al, 2010; Linden & Kavanagh, 2012; Munro & Baker, 2007) and four studies exemplified negative attitudes (Hamdan-Mansour & Wardam, 2009; Hsiao et al, 2015; Magliano et al, 2004; Sevigny et al, 1999). The remaining studies were a combination of both positive and negative (Foster et al, 2008; Kukulu & Ergun, 2007; Nordt et al, 2006; Serafini et al, 2011). …”

“…Four studies reported mixed attitudes (Foster et al, 2008; Kukulu et al, 2007; Serafini et al, 2011; Nordt et al, 2006). The authors of all four studies reported results that showed negative and positive attitudes toward mental illness.…”

Attitudes of Medical and Pharmacy Students Towards Patients Suffering from Schizophrenia

“…The results showed that the most negative scores were found in reports of opinions about paranoid schizophrenia. Similar to findings obtained from the general population, research has shown that medical students are prejudiced towards people with mental disorders, as they state that such patients have a hard time recovering and that difficult psychiatric patients are violent and dangerous (9)(10)(11). Pharmacy students have also stated that patients with schizophrenia are unstable and dangerous (12).…”

“…However, it should be mentioned that in studies that compared the stigmatization of schizophrenic patients among medical nurses, physicians, medical students and patients, the Table 3. Mean values of the summed score on the Likert scale in relation to age and previous high school education highest level of stigmatization was found in medical students (11). Most research has shown that education against stigma is efficient (26,27).…”