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The stigmatisation of psychiatric illness

the attitudes of medical students and doctors in a London teaching hospital

St George's Hospital Medical School Psychiatric Rotation

Antonio Fialho, Senior House Officer

St George's Hospital Medical School Psychiatric Rotation

Aruna Wijetunge, Senior House Officer

St George's Hospital Medical School Psychiatric Rotation

Ken Checinski, Senior Lecturer

Department of Addictive Behaviour and Psychological Medicine, St George's Hospital Medical School, Cranmer Terrace, Tooting, London SW17 0RF

Tammy Surgenor, Clinical Psychologist

North Southwark Child and Families Service

AIMS AND METHOD

To study the attitudes and opinions of doctors and medical students with regard to psychiatric illness a questionnaire was sent to all medical students (832) and all doctors of all grades (441) at a London teaching hospital.

RESULTS

A total of 520 questionnaires were returned. More than 50% felt that people with schizophrenia and drug and alcohol addiction were dangerous and unpredictable. It was felt by the majority that people were not to blame for their conditions and there were low negative responses towards lack of treatability for a majority of conditions.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

There were more optimistic views with regard to treatment than the general population. There appeared to be a lessening in stigma as experience increased. This would suggest that early improved education and exposure in the future may lead to a greater decline in stigmatised attitudes.

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