Attitudes of psychiatrists toward patients with schizophrenia

Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2004 Feb;58(1):89-91. doi: 10.1111/j.1440-1819.2004.01198.x.

Abstract

A questionnaire was distributed to psychiatrists to investigate their attitudes toward patients with schizophrenia. A total of 42.7% of 60 respondents never informed patients of the diagnosis of schizophrenia and 40.7% informed on a case-by-case basis. The reason that psychiatrists gave for avoiding informing the patients/family members of the diagnosis was the idea that they would not understand the meaning (32.6%) and that they would drop-out from treatment (28.3%). A total of 88.4% of respondents thought the term 'schizophrenia' was used in a pejorative manner in public. The findings revealed that stigmatizing attitudes of society are also shared by some psychiatrists.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Attitude of Health Personnel*
  • Cultural Characteristics
  • Family Health
  • Female
  • Health Care Surveys
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Prejudice*
  • Professional-Patient Relations*
  • Psychiatry*
  • Schizophrenia*
  • Social Conditions
  • Truth Disclosure
  • Turkey