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01-08-2020 | Schizophrenia | Original Paper

The Views of Non-psychiatric Medical Specialists About People with Schizophrenia and Depression

Authors: Lorenza Magliano, Gennaro Ruggiero, John Read, Alessia Mancuso, Angela Schiavone, Annalisa Sepe

Published in: Community Mental Health Journal | Issue 6/2020

Abstract

This study explored the views of non-psychiatric medical specialists about people with schizophrenia and depression and examined whether specialists’ approach to these clients, and their perception of dangerousness and social distance, differed by disorder. Non-psychiatric medical specialists working in community centers in Italy read either a schizophrenia or depression description and then completed a questionnaire on their views about people with that disorder. The schizophrenia-group (N = 114) was more sure than the depression-group (N = 97) that the patients should be approached differently in outpatient specialized clinics like those where the respondents worked; are incapable of caring for their own health; and are kept at distance by others. Perceived dangerousness did not significantly differ between the two groups. These findings highlight the potential effects of attitudes on medical practice and outline the need to educate non-psychiatric medical specialists on stigma as a strategy to reduce health discrepancies, particularly toward people diagnosed with schizophrenia.

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Title: The Views of Non-psychiatric Medical Specialists About People with Schizophrenia and Depression
Authors: Lorenza Magliano
Gennaro Ruggiero
John Read
Alessia Mancuso
Angela Schiavone
Annalisa Sepe
Publication date: 01-08-2020
Publisher: Springer US
Keywords: Schizophrenia
Affective Disorder
Care
Affective Disorder
Published in: Community Mental Health Journal / Issue 6/2020
Print ISSN: 0010-3853
Electronic ISSN: 1573-2789
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-020-00567-x

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