Emotional reactions to the mentally ill are positively influenced by personal acquaintance

The study sought to evaluate whether personal acquaintance with a psychiatric patient increases or decreases stigmatization.

The research was carried out in a Turkish university. The Social Distance Scale and the Affective Reaction Scale were completed by final year students. The subjects were then asked whether they have ever been acquainted with a patient with a mental disorder.

Subjects who had not been acquainted with a patient with mental disorder had a higher score on the Affective Reaction Scale than subjects who had been acquainted.

This finding suggests that acquaintance with a psychiatric patient reduces negative emotions towards people with mental disorders. It is suggested that this result is related to the resolution of sensitization.