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Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology
Published in: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology 2/2015

01-02-2015 | Original Paper

Differential stigmatizing attitudes of healthcare professionals towards psychiatry and patients with mental health problems: something to worry about? A pilot study

Authors: Laura M. Gras, Marte Swart, Cees J. Slooff, Jaap van Weeghel, Henderikus Knegtering, Stynke Castelein

Published in: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology | Issue 2/2015

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Abstract

Purpose

This study compares stigmatizing attitudes of different healthcare professionals towards psychiatry and patients with mental health problems.

Methods

The Mental Illness Clinicians Attitude (MICA) questionnaire is used to assess stigmatizing attitudes in three groups: general practitioners (GPs, n = 55), mental healthcare professionals (MHCs, n = 67) and forensic psychiatric professionals (FPs, n = 53).

Results

A modest positive attitude towards psychiatry was found in the three groups (n = 176). Significant differences were found on the total MICA-score (p < 0.001). GPs scored significantly higher than the FPs and the latter scored significantly higher than the MHCs on all factors of the MICA. Most stigmatizing attitudes were found on professionals’ views of health/social care field and mental illness and disclosure. Personal and work experience did not influence stigmatizing attitudes.

Conclusions

Although all three groups have a relatively positive attitude using the MICA, there is room for improvement. Bias toward socially acceptable answers cannot be ruled out. Patients’ view on stigmatizing attitudes of professionals may be a next step in stigma research in professionals.
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Metadata
Title
Differential stigmatizing attitudes of healthcare professionals towards psychiatry and patients with mental health problems: something to worry about? A pilot study
Authors
Laura M. Gras
Marte Swart
Cees J. Slooff
Jaap van Weeghel
Henderikus Knegtering
Stynke Castelein
Publication date
01-02-2015
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology / Issue 2/2015
Print ISSN: 0933-7954
Electronic ISSN: 1433-9285
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-014-0931-z

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