Staff attitudes towards patients with schizophrenia

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Mental Health Research
• Clinical Psychology

Background:

• International studies indicate stigmatizing attitudes among psychiatric staff.
• Previous research highlights the need to assess these attitudes within different healthcare systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate stigmatizing attitudes among psychiatric staff in Denmark.
• To compare findings with international data on clinician attitudes.

Main Methods:

• A survey was conducted with 548 staff members at two Copenhagen psychiatric units.
• The Mental Illness: Clinicians' Attitudes scales, augmented with four additional questions, were utilized.

Main Results:

• A majority of respondents believed in patient recovery and viewed the cause of mental illness as primarily biological, with agreement on a bio-psycho-social model.
• While most staff were open to working with colleagues with schizophrenia, about half expressed hesitation in disclosing their own diagnosis.
• Being female, working in community psychiatry, having extensive experience, and participating in recovery programs were linked to reduced stigmatizing attitudes.

Conclusions:

• The study found a relatively low level of stigmatizing attitudes among Danish psychiatric staff, contrasting with international findings.
• This may reflect a move towards recovery-oriented care or political correctness.