A questionnaire to assess social stigma

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Social Psychology

Background:

• Mental illness stigma exacerbates patient suffering and social marginalization.
• Understanding stigma within the mental health field is crucial for improving patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess marginalizing attitudes among mental health professionals with a history of psychiatric problems.
• To determine if these professionals exhibit stigma towards patients with similar mental health disorders.

Main Methods:

• Development of two distinct questionnaires for professionals and patients.
• International, multicenter, observational study design.
• Focus on identifying marginalizing attitudes within the target population.

Main Results:

• Data collection via questionnaires is ongoing.
• Analysis will focus on comparing attitudes between professionals with and without personal psychiatric history.
• The study aims to quantify the prevalence of stigma within this specific group.

Conclusions:

• Findings will inform interventions to reduce stigma among mental health professionals.
• Improved understanding of internalized stigma can enhance therapeutic alliances.
• The study seeks to contribute to a more supportive environment for individuals with mental health disorders.