Differences In The Attitudes Of Clinical And Pre-clinical Medical Students To Mental Illness

2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (S1) ◽  
pp. S433-S433
Author(s):  
O. Adekunte ◽  
C. Oliver ◽  
B. Owen
Keyword(s):  
Mental Illness ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Psychiatric Patients ◽  
Free Text ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
People With Mental Illness ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Elective Period ◽  
Competing Interest

BackgroundThe quality of care provided to psychiatry patients by doctors can be influenced by attitudes towards mental illness. Equally important is the attitude of medical students as future treating doctors towards mental illness. This survey compares the differences in the attitudes of pre-clinical and clinical years student to mental illness.AimsTo compare attitudes of pre-clinical and clinical medical students’ to mental illness.MethodsA cross-sectional survey of 212 clinical students (CS) and pre-clinical students (PS) at Newcastle University. Each responded anonymously to an electronic questionnaire. The responses take the form of: Yes/No, free text, order of preference, and Likert scale. Results were analysed based on basic statistical analysis.ResultsLittle differences exist between the 2 groups in their beliefs that psychiatric patients are not difficult to like, mental illness can be a result of social adversity, psychiatry patients often recover and that people with mental illness should be offered a job with responsibility. However, 54% PS disagreed that mental illness often leads to violence, compared to 66% CS and 87% of PS identified that mental illness can be genetic in origin compared with CS of 91%.ConclusionThis survey did not identify any significant difference between the attitudes of pre-clinical and clinical students in most of the domains. However, a higher percentage of clinical students associate violence with mental illness and are unwilling to consider an elective period in psychiatry.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Evaluation Of Psychiatry Attachment On Medical Students’ Attitude To Mental Illness

2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (S1) ◽  
pp. S434-S434
Author(s):  
C. Oliver ◽  
O. Adekunte ◽  
B. Owen
Keyword(s):  
Mental Illness ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Psychiatric Patients ◽  
Self Control ◽  
Free Text ◽  
Positive Attitudes ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Students Attitudes ◽  
Attitudes Toward Mental Illness ◽  
Competing Interest

BackgroundMental illness is subject to stigma, discrimination and prejudice by both healthcare professionals and public. Fortunately, students are still flexible in their beliefs and there is evidence that education in psychiatry may help to positively alter these beliefs. This survey looks into how psychiatry placement positively influences attitudes of medical students to mental illness.AimsTo elicit the effect of clinical attachment in psychiatry on 3rd year medical students’ attitudes toward mental illness.MethodsQuestionnaires were administered to four cohorts of students pre- and post-attachment. Responses were anonymised. Responses were based on Yes/No, free text, order of preference and Likert scale. Analysis was with basic statistical analysis.ResultsNinety-eight pre- and 81 post-placement students responded. There was a 4% increase in mean positive attitude scores following the placement. There was no significant difference in the medical students’ attitudes to violence in mental illness and that patients with mental illness do not want you to help them. Students post-attachment were more likely to disagree with the statement, ‘Psychiatric patients are difficult to like’. However, 6% more students agreed with the statement ‘Alcohol abusers have no self-control’ after the placement!Conclusions and recommendationFollowing the 4-week attachments, the percentage of students reporting more positive attitudes to mental illness showed only a marginal increase. A possible explanation may be insufficient contacts with patients and a feeling of not been part of the treating team.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Stigma and attitudes towards mental illness: Gender differences in a sample of Italian medical students

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. S739-S739 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Pascucci ◽  
M. La Montagna ◽  
D. Di Sabatino ◽  
E. Stella ◽  
R. Nicastro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gender Differences ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Mentally Ill ◽  
Psychiatric Patients ◽  
Female Gender ◽  
Reference Points ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Students Attitudes

Introductionstigma in mental illness is characterized by discrimination towards people affected by mental disorder. Consequence of the paradigm “stigma-injury-discrimination” is the social exclusion of these patients and the denial of their rights. Medical students, those who should be important reference points for psychiatric patients, are instead one of the categories that contribute to their stigmatization.ObjectivesTo study the attitudes of medical students towards psychiatric patients.AimsThe present study analyzes gender differences in a sample of Italian medical students towards mental illness.MethodsA total of 339 Italian medical students completed a cross-sectional survey, in Rome and Foggia (Italy). We used the Italian version of Community Attitude towards the Mentally Ill test (CAMI) to analyze the students’ attitudes.ResultsThere is a substantial difference among the attitudes towards mental disorders in female and male students. Female students have obtained less stigmatizing results in 9 of the CAMI test items (P < 0.05), in Benevolence (P = 0.001) and Social Restrictiveness subscales (P = 0.043) and in the total score (P = 0.013).ConclusionsThese results are in line with those achieved in scientific literature, confirming that women tend to show more humanitarian attitude towards the mentally ill. Even in the original article of the validation of the CAMI test, the authors found better attitudes in women in all subscales, with the exception of Social Restrictiveness subscale (that in our analysis also correlates with the female gender).Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Correlations between medical students’ specialty choice and different attitudes towards mental illness

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. S739-S739
Author(s):  
M. Pascucci ◽  
E. Stella ◽  
M. La Montagna ◽  
D. Di Sabatino ◽  
R. Nicastro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Illness ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Psychiatric Disorders ◽  
Psychiatric Patients ◽  
Specialty Choice ◽  
Reference Points ◽  
Undergraduate Medical Students ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Medical Specialties

IntroductionDiscrimination and stigmatization cause an important burden for people suffering from psychiatric disorders. The medical doctors, those who should be important reference points for psychiatric patients, are instead one of the categories that contribute to their stigmatization.ObjectivesIt is extremely important to study and to know the attitudes of undergraduate medical students towards psychiatric disorders, since these individuals will be involved in the care of these patients throughout their careers.AimsThe present study analyzes the attitudes of a group of Italian medical students towards mental illness, highlighting the differences between the students who would choose surgical specialties from those who prefer medical ones.MethodsA total of 339 medical students of different medical schools, in Rome and Foggia (Italy), completed a cross-sectional survey. The Italian version of community attitude towards the mentally Ill test (CAMI) was used to evaluate the students’ attitudes.ResultsThe students that would choose medical specialties reported less stigmatizing responses in 11 CAMI items (including five items with P < 0.01), in benevolence and community mental health ideology subscales (P = 0.003) and in the total score (P = 0.003).ConclusionsIt is evident that the students that prefer the surgical specialties have more stigmatizing attitudes towards psychiatric patients. Negative feedbacks on Psychiatry from non-psychiatrist colleagues may have a fundamental role in stigmatizing mental disorders.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Social stigma in severe mental illness in Tunisia: Clinical and socio-demographic correlates

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. S577-S577 ◽  
Author(s):  
U. Ouali ◽  
R. Jomli ◽  
R. Nefzi ◽  
H. Ouertani ◽  
F. Nacef
Keyword(s):  
Mental Illness ◽  
Severe Mental Illness ◽  
Cultural Context ◽  
Social Inclusion ◽  
Psychiatric Patients ◽  
Social Stigma ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Local Context ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Competing Interest

IntroductionMental patients generally internalize some of the negative conceptions about how most people view them: they might be considered incompetent or untrustworthy or believe that people would not want to hire, or marry someone with mental illness. A lot of research on stigma has been conducted in western countries; however, little is still known on the situation in Arab-Muslim societies.ObjectivesTo evaluate social stigma as viewed by patients suffering from severe mental illness (SMI)MethodsThis is a cross-sectional study on clinically stabilized patients with schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder (BD) according to DSM IV, who were interviewed in our out-patients clinic with the help of a semi-structured questionnaire, containing 8 opinions on the social inclusion and stigmatization of psychiatric patients, with special reference to the local cultural context (e.g.: “It is better to hide mental illness in order to preserve the reputation of my family”)ResultsWe included 104 patients, 51% with schizophrenia and 49% with BD. Mean age was 38.4 years (18–74 years); 59.6% were males. Overall social stigma scores were high. Social stigma in patients was correlated with gender, age, place of residence and diagnosis. Patients with BD showed significantly less social stigma than patients with schizophrenia.ConclusionOur results show the need for a better understanding of this phenomenon in patients with SMI, but also within Tunisian society, in order to elaborate anti stigma strategies adapted to the local context.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

scholarly journals Attitudes toward people with mental illness among medical students

2015 ◽  
Vol 06 (04) ◽  
pp. 001-002
Author(s):  
Vijayalakshmi Poreddi ◽  
Rohini Thimmaiah ◽  
Suresh Bada Math
Keyword(s):  
Mental Illness ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Psychiatric Education ◽  
Undergraduate Medical Students ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
People With Mental Illness ◽  
Students Attitudes ◽  
Self Reporting Questionnaire

ABSTRACT Background: Globally, people with mental illness frequently encounter stigma, prejudice, and discrimination by public and health care professionals. Research related to medical students’f attitudes toward people with mental illness is limited from India. Aim: The aim was to assess and compare the attitudes toward people with mental illness among medical students’. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study design was carried out among medical students, who were exposed (n = 115) and not exposed (n = 61) to psychiatry training using self-reporting questionnaire. Results: Our findings showed improvement in students’ attitudes after exposure to psychiatry in benevolent (t = 2.510, P < 0.013) and stigmatization (t = 2.656, P < 0.009) domains. Further, gender, residence, and contact with mental illness were the factors that found to be influencing students’ attitudes toward mental illness. Conclusion: The findings of the present study suggest that psychiatric education proved to be effective in changing the attitudes of medical students toward mental illness to a certain extent. However, there is an urgent need to review the current curriculum to prepare undergraduate medical students to provide holistic care to the people with mental health problems.

scholarly journals EFFECT OF EDUCATION ON STIGMA AND DISCRIMINATION TOWARDS MENTAL ILLNESS: A MULTIVARIATE ANALYSIS OF COVARIANCE

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 329-337
Author(s):  
Mariana Tumin ◽  
Md Mizanur Rahman ◽  
Zulkifli Jantan
Keyword(s):  
Mental Illness ◽  
Mentally Ill ◽  
Education Level ◽  
Analysis Of Covariance ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Linear Effect ◽  
Stigma And Discrimination ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Related Stigma

People with mental illness often encounter stigma and discrimination. Mental illness-related stigma and discrimination represent the enormous obstacles that stand in the way of delivering mental health care. Little is known about stigma and discrimination toward mental illness in rural Sarawak. Thus, this study aimed to identify the stigma and discrimination towards mental illness among Sarawak’s rural community and the factors affecting them. A cross-sectional survey was carried out on 840 respondent adults aged 21 and above. A validated Community Attitude towards Mental Illness (CAMI) and Discrimination towards Mental Illness questionnaire was used for data collection. A Two-way Multiple Analysis of Covariance (Two-way MANCOVA) test was carried out to determine how much gender and education level influence stigma and discrimination towards mentally ill patients. Analysis showed that there was a statistically significant difference of standardised stigma and discrimination scores with education level (p<.001), but not with gender (p>.05). Age had a positive linear effect on both stigma and discrimination, whereas experience with mentally ill patients negatively affected both stigma and discrimination. Individuals with a lower level of education, older in age, and lesser experience in dealing with the mentally ill would have a higher level of stigma and discrimination towards mental illness. Thus, targeted and practical strategies need to be organised and implemented to combat mental illness-related stigma and discrimination.

scholarly journals Attitudes toward people with mental illness among medical students

2015 ◽  
Vol 6 (03) ◽  
pp. 349-354 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vijayalakshmi Poreddi ◽  
Rohini Thimmaiah ◽  
Suresh Bada Math
Keyword(s):  
Mental Illness ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Psychiatric Education ◽  
Undergraduate Medical Students ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
People With Mental Illness ◽  
Students Attitudes ◽  
Self Reporting Questionnaire

ABSTRACT Background: Globally, people with mental illness frequently encounter stigma, prejudice, and discrimination by public and health care professionals. Research related to medical students′ attitudes toward people with mental illness is limited from India. Aim: The aim was to assess and compare the attitudes toward people with mental illness among medical students′. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study design was carried out among medical students, who were exposed (n = 115) and not exposed (n = 61) to psychiatry training using self-reporting questionnaire. Results: Our findings showed improvement in students′ attitudes after exposure to psychiatry in benevolent (t = 2.510, P < 0.013) and stigmatization (t = 2.656, P < 0.009) domains. Further, gender, residence, and contact with mental illness were the factors that found to be influencing students′ attitudes toward mental illness. Conclusion: The findings of the present study suggest that psychiatric education proved to be effective in changing the attitudes of medical students toward mental illness to a certain extent. However, there is an urgent need to review the current curriculum to prepare undergraduate medical students to provide holistic care to the people with mental health problems.

Mental Health Stigma: What's Been Done? Where to Go?

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. s245-s245
Author(s):  
P. Macedo ◽  
M. Silva ◽  
A. Fornelos ◽  
A.R. Figueiredo ◽  
S. Nunes
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Social Life ◽  
Social Inclusion ◽  
Psychiatric Patients ◽  
Mental Health Stigma ◽  
Public Stigma ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
People With Mental Illness ◽  
Competing Interest

IntroductionNegative attitudes towards psychiatric patients still exist in our society. Persons suffering from mental illness frequently encounter public stigma and may internalize it leading to self-stigma. Discrimination occurs across many aspects of economic and social existence. It may represent a barrier for patients to receive appropriate care. Many anti-stigma campaigns have been taken to decrease people's prejudice, but its effects are not well documented.ObjectivesTo characterize anti-stigma initiatives and its effects on diminishing negative consequences of stigma.MethodsBibliographical research using PubMed using the keywords “stigma” and “mental illness”.ResultsDespite several approaches to eradicate stigma, it shows a surprising consistency in population levels. It was expected that focus on education would decrease stigma levels. The same was expected following concentration on the genetic causation of pathology. Most studies have revealed that education has little value and endorsing genetic attributions has led to a greater pessimism on the efficacy of mental health services, sense of permanence and guilty feelings within the family.ConclusionPublic stigma has had a major impact on many people with mental illness, especially when leading to self-stigma, interfering with various aspects in life, including work, housing, health care, social life and self-esteem. As Goffman elucidated, stigma is fundamentally a social phenomenon rooted in social relationships and shaped by the culture and structure of society. Social inclusion has been pointed as a potential direction of change.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Attitudes toward psychiatry and psychiatric patients in medical students: Can real-world experiences reduce stigma?

2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (S1) ◽  
pp. s218-s218 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Pascucci ◽  
E. Stella ◽  
M. La Montagna ◽  
A. De Angelis ◽  
P. Parente ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Illness ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Psychiatric Patient ◽  
Real World ◽  
Psychiatric Patients ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Premature Death ◽  
Psychiatric Ward ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Competing Interest

IntroductionStigma towards psychiatry and mental illness significantly worsens the quality of life of psychiatric patients. Negative prejudices in medical students make it difficult for future doctors to send patients to mental health services and promote an increased risk of premature death.AimsOur aim is to assess stigma towards mental illness and psychiatry in medical students, and to study the influence of real-world experiences, such as having visited a psychiatric ward, having personally met a psychiatric patient or having friends and/or family members who suffer from a mental illness.MethodsOne hundred and thirteen Italian medical students completed the following tests:– Attitudes Towards Psychiatry (ATP-30);– Community Attitudes Towards Mental Ill (CAMI);– Perceived Discrimination Devaluation Scale (PDD);– Baron-Cohen's Empathy Quotient (EQ).ResultsHaving visited a psychiatric ward correlates with a better attitude towards psychiatry (P = 0.008), rather than towards the mentally ill. Having personally known someone with mental disorders correlates with less stigmatizing scores in CAMI: total score (P = 0.002), authoritarianism (P < 0.001), benevolence (P = 0.047) and social restriction (P = 0.001). Similar results emerged in those who have close relationships with a psychiatric patient. There is no statistical significance as to empathy.ConclusionsThe students who have visited a psychiatric ward have a less stigmatizing vision of psychiatry, while having personally known psychiatric patients favors a less stigmatizing attitude towards them. Those who have not had this experience, have a more hostile and intolerant vision of mental illness, and consider psychiatric patients as inferior subjects that require coercive attitudes and that would be better to avoid because socially dangerous.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

scholarly journals Stigmatising attitudes towards persons with mental illness: a survey of medical students and interns from Southern Nigeria

2012 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 32-34 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bawo Onesirosan James ◽  
Joyce Ohiole Omoaregba ◽  
Esther Osemudiamen Okogbenin
Keyword(s):  
Mental Illness ◽  
Substance Use ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Substance Use Disorders ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Medical Doctors ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Medical Graduates ◽  
Item Level

Stigmatising attitudes towards persons with mental illness are commonly reported among health professionals. Familiarity with mental illness has been reported to improve these attitudes. Very few studies have compared future medical doctors' attitudes toward types of mental illness, substance use disorders and physical illness. A cross-sectional survey of 5th and 6th year medical students as well as recently graduated medical doctors was conducted in April 2011. The 12-item level of contact report and the Attitude towards Mental Illness Questionnaire were administered. Partici -pants endorsed stigmatising attitudes towards mental illness; with attitudes more adverse for schizophrenia compared to depression. Stigmatising attitudes were similarly endorsed for substance use disorders. Paradoxically, attitudes towards HIV/AIDS were positive and similar to diabetes mellitus. Increasing familiarity with mental illness was weakly associated with better attitudes towards depression and schizophrenia. Stigmatising attitudes towards depression and schizophrenia are common among future doctors. Efforts to combat stigma are urgently needed and should be promoted among medical students and recent medical graduates.

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