Attitude of doctors towards mentally ill in Hyderabad, India: Results of a prospective survey

Prevalence of internalized stigma in patients with psychiatric illness in Abha, Southern Region, Saudi Arabia

BACKGROUND

Mental stigma occurs when patients with various mental disorders are labeled by their disorders. Little is known about the burden of mental stigma on patients with mental disorders. The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of mental stigma on patients with psychiatric disorder in Saudi Arabia.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This cross-sectional study was conducted among previously diagnosed patients with any psychiatric disorder attending King Khalid Hospital, Abha, Saudi Arabia. The patients were interviewed with a sociodemographic questionnaire and a validated Arabic version of the Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness (ISMI-29) scale. Chi-square test and t-test were used to assess the association between various demographic characteristics and presence of stigma.

RESULTS

The study included 489 patients with different psychiatric disorders. The mean age of the participants was 32.8 years and 54.6% were females. About 39% participants showed no to minimal internalized stigma, 37.4% of total sample had mild stigma, 20% had moderate stigma, and 3.7% had severe stigma. A signficantly higher proportion (71.4%) of widowed patients had stigma (P = 0.032).

CONCLUSION

Self-stigma is prevalent among patients with psychiatric disorders in Abha, Saudi Arabia, but lower than the prevalence in developing countries. Marital status has a significant impact on the prevalence and severity of the self-stigma of patients. There is a need for awareness program to reduce self-stigma. Psychiatric institutions should also focus on promotion of patients' social life and increase patient's awareness of certain issues that could prevent stigma.

The role of 108 GVK EMRI ambulance services in the management of behavioral emergencies in the state of Telangana

Mental health is a major public health issue that calls for immediate steps by individuals and societies around the globe. Talking about mental health issues has always been considered a taboo, especially in lower-middle income countries. This paper assesses the role of GVK Emergency Management Research Institute (GVK EMRI) 108 Ambulance Services in the management of behavioral emergencies in the state of Telangana, India. Primary data collection was carried out in Devaryamjal village of Medchal District with people from both rural and urban setting. The use of management services for behavioral emergencies are described, and knowledge attitude and practices in communities regarding the use of these services are identified. The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the mental health of individuals is considered as well, and recommendations to strengthen 108 services for managing behavioral emergencies are suggested. As GVK EMRI is a first responder organization, understanding its role in the field of behavioral emergencies can fundamentally impact several lives. Findings indicate that mental health problems exist in communities, but individuals are reluctant to seek help. People from the urban setting were more open to talk about the topic. The awareness of 108 as an emergency response service was immaculate and a positive view was held about the services and the organization.

General hospital specialists' attitudes toward psychiatry: a cross-sectional survey in seven countries

OBJECTIVE

Psychiatric comorbidities are common in physical illness and significantly affect health outcomes. Attitudes of general hospital doctors toward psychiatry are important as they influence referral patterns and quality of care. Little is known about these attitudes and their cultural correlates. The aim of this study was to identify attitudes toward psychiatry among general hospital specialists in relation to culture of the practice setting and other clinician factors (gender, age, seniority and specialty).

METHODS

A cross-sectional, descriptive study was carried out in seven countries (New Zealand, China, Sri Lanka, Russia, Israel, Brazil, the Netherlands). Data were collected from senior medical staff of various disciplines using an updated version of Mayou and Smith's (1986) self-administered questionnaire.

RESULTS

A total of 889 hospital doctors participated. While favourable attitudes toward both psychiatric consultation and management were endorsed by a majority, significant differences were also observed between countries. Subgroup differences were mostly confined to gender, acuity of practice setting and specialty. For example, female doctors in Russia (χ²=7.7, p=0.0056), China (χ²=9.2, p=0.0025) and the Netherlands (χ²=5.7, p=0.0174) endorsed more positive attitudes compared with their male counterparts, but this gender effect was not replicated in the total sample. Chronic care specialists were overall more inclined to manage patients' emotional problems compared with those working in acute care (χ²=70.8, p (adjusted)<0.0001), a significant finding seen also in individual countries (China, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Russia). Physicians were more favourably disposed toward psychiatry compared with other specialists, especially surgeons, in all countries except Israel.

CONCLUSIONS

This study adds to evidence for the association of medical attitudes with individual clinician factors and demonstrates that the influence of these factors varies by country. Understanding these issues may help to overcome barriers and improve quality of care provided to general hospital patients.

The intersection of gender and drug use-related stigma: A mixed methods systematic review and synthesis of the literature

BACKGROUND

Substance use-related stigma is a significant barrier to care among persons who use drugs (PWUD). Less is known regarding how intersectional identities, like gender, shape experiences of substance use-related stigma. We sought to answer the following question: Do men or women PWUD experience more drug use stigma?

METHODS

Data were drawn from a systematic review of the global, peer-reviewed scientific literature on substance use-related stigma conducted through 2017 and guided by the Stigma and Substance Use Process Model and PRISMA guidelines. Articles were included in the present analysis if they either qualitatively illustrated themes related to the gendered nature of drug use-related stigma, or quantitatively tested the moderating effect of gender on drug use-related stigma.

RESULTS

Of the 75 studies included, 40 (53 %) were quantitative and 35 (47 %) were qualitative. Of the quantitative articles, 22 (55 %) found no association between gender and drug use-related stigma, 4 (10 %) identified women who use drugs (WWUD) were more stigmatized, and 2 (5 %) determined men who use drugs (MWUD) were more stigmatized. In contrast, nearly all (34; 97 %) of the qualitative articles demonstrated WWUD experienced greater levels of drug use-related stigma.

CONCLUSION

The quantitative literature is equivocal regarding the influence of gender on drug use-related stigma, but the qualitative literature more clearly demonstrates WWUD experience greater levels of stigma. The use of validated drug use-related stigma measures and the tailoring of stigma scales to WWUD are needed to understand the role of stigma in heightening the disproportionate harms experienced by WWUD.

Mental illness attitudes and knowledge in non-specialist medical doctors working in state and private sectors

BACKGROUND

An increasing number of South Africans utilise primary healthcare services (either in the state or private sector) for mental health concerns; hence, there is a need to objectively assess these doctors' attitudes and knowledge of mental illness.

AIM

To investigate aspects of knowledge and attitudes towards mental illness of a group of private and state-employed non-specialist medical doctors.

METHOD

Doctors in the state sector who were working at a primary healthcare level and who were not working towards, or did not hold, a specialist qualification were considered eligible for the study. Doctors in the private sector who were working as general practitioners and who did not hold a specialist qualification were considered eligible for the study. Data were collected by means of a self-administered questionnaire. A link to the study questionnaire, information about the study, details of the researcher and matters pertaining to informed consent were emailed to potential participants.

RESULTS

Of the 140 practitioners who responded to the survey, 51.4% (n = 72) worked in the state sector, 41.4% (n = 58) worked in the private sector and 7.1% (n = 10) worked in both the state and private sectors (χ2 1 = 45.31, p < 0.010). The majority (> 50%) of participants in all three groups had a positive attitude towards mental illness (χ2 2 = 1.52, p = 0.468). Although there were no significant associations between attitude and socio-demographic characteristics (p > 0.05), male SS doctors reported feeling less comfortable when dealing with mentally ill patients (p = 0.015); SS doctors who did not have family contact with mental illness were less likely to feel that mentally ill patients did not pose a risk to others (p = 0.007), and PS doctors under the age of 35 years were more likely to feel adequately trained to treat mental illness (p = 0.026). The majority (> 50%) of participants in all three groups had an adequate level of knowledge of mental illness (modal scores = 10). There were no significant associations between knowledge and socio-demographic characteristics (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Despite the findings of a positive attitude and adequate knowledge of mental illness amongst the participants of this study, it is recommended that more targeted interventions are established to further improve mental health awareness and knowledge of doctors at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels of study.

Prevalence and factors associated with higher levels of perceived stigma among people with schizophrenia Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Background

Schizophrenia is a severe and disabling chronic mental disorder and accompanied by different levels of a perceived stigma that affects almost all age groups. This perceived stigma negatively impacts the quality of life, physical, and mental well-being of people with schizophrenia. It is also linked with a poor level of functioning, poor adherence to drugs, and increased dropout rate. However, research into perceived stigma and associated factors among people with schizophrenia in low- and middle-income countries are limited. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the perceived stigma and correlates among people with schizophrenia in Ethiopia.

Methods

An institution based cross-sectional study was conducted from May to June 2018. A structured, pre-tested, and interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. The standardized perceived devaluation and discrimination questionnaire was used to assess perceived stigma. The systematic random sampling technique was used to select study participants. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with perceived stigma. An odds ratio (OR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) was computed to assess the strength of the association.

Results

The prevalence of high perceived stigma was found to be 62.6% [95% CI 58.3, 67.4]. In the multivariate logistic regression, female sex [AOR = 2.30, 95% CI 1.42, 3.71], age of onset of schizophrenia [AOR = 1.85, 95% CI 1.19, 2.89], multiple hospitalizations [AOR = 1.7, 95% CI 1.16, 3.27], and duration of illness 1–5 years [AOR = 2, 95% CI 1.01, 3.27], 6–10 years [AOR = 2.48, 95% CI 1.29, 4.74], and ˃10 years [AOR = 2.85, 95% CI 1.40, 5.79] were factors significantly associated with higher perceived stigma.

Conclusion

In the present study, the prevalence of high perceived stigma among people with schizophrenia was found to be 62.6%. Female sex, age of onset of schizophrenia, multiple hospitalizations, and duration of illness were factors significantly associated with higher perceived stigma. Measures to enhance the awareness of the patients, their families and their social networks about perceived stigma and associated factors, by the leading government and healthcare institutions are warranted.

Consultation-liaison psychiatry in India: Where to go from here?

Consultation-liaison psychiatry (CLP) is a young and upcoming subspecialty of psychiatry. When one looks at the history of CLP in India, the progress in the area of CLP paralleled that seen in various developed countries. However, over the years, compared to developed countries, CLP started lagging behind in India. In India, CLP services are mostly been provided as per the consultation model and true liaison model practice is missing. There has been meager research in the area of CLP in India, and there is marked heterogeneity in training across different centers. There is lack of specialized training programs in this country. Considering the increasing emphasis on providing person-centered care, there is a need to shift the focus of training from identifying and managing only primary psychiatric disorders to interphase of psychiatry and other disciplines.

Knowledge and Attitudes Towards Clinical Depression among Community Medical Providers in Gujarat, India

There is limited data on how community medical providers in India attempt to diagnose and treat depression, as well as on their general knowledge of and attitudes toward depression. A cross-sectional survey was conducted assessing knowledge and views of clinical depression with 80 non-psychiatric physicians and physician trainees recruited from community clinics and hospitals in Gujarat, India. Interviews were also held with 29 of the physicians to assess what they do in their own practices in regards to detection of and treatment of clinical depression. Although subjects showed a generally good basic understanding of the definition of clinical depression and its treatment, their responses reflected the presence of some negative and/or stigmatized attitudes toward clinical depression. Our findings raise the question of possible stigma among physicians themselves and underscore the importance of combatting physicians' stigma against and increasing awareness of how to detect and treat clinical depression.

The psychometric characteristics of the revised depression attitude questionnaire (R-DAQ) in Pakistani medical practitioners: a cross-sectional study of doctors in Lahore

Background

Depression is common mental health problem and leading contributor to the global burden of disease. The attitudes and beliefs of the public and of health professionals influence social acceptance and affect the esteem and help-seeking of people experiencing mental health problems. The attitudes of clinicians are particularly relevant to their role in accurately recognising and providing appropriate support and management of depression. This study examines the characteristics of the revised depression attitude questionnaire (R-DAQ) with doctors working in healthcare settings in Lahore, Pakistan.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 2015 using the revised depression attitude questionnaire (R-DAQ). A convenience sample of 700 medical practitioners based in six hospitals in Lahore was approached to participate in the survey. The R-DAQ structure was examined using Parallel Analysis from polychoric correlations. Unweighted least squares analysis (ULSA) was used for factor extraction. Model fit was estimated using goodness-of-fit indices and the root mean square of standardized residuals (RMSR), and internal consistency reliability for the overall scale and subscales was assessed using reliability estimates based on Mislevy and Bock (BILOG 3 Item analysis and test scoring with binary logistic models. Mooresville: Scientific Software, 55) and the McDonald’s Omega statistic. Findings using this approach were compared with principal axis factor analysis based on Pearson correlation matrix.

Results

601 (86%) of the doctors approached consented to participate in the study. Exploratory factor analysis of R-DAQ scale responses demonstrated the same 3-factor structure as in the UK development study, though analyses indicated removal of 7 of the 22 items because of weak loading or poor model fit. The 3 factor solution accounted for 49.8% of the common variance. Scale reliability and internal consistency were adequate: total scale standardised alpha was 0.694; subscale reliability for professional confidence was 0.732, therapeutic optimism/pessimism was 0.638, and generalist perspective was 0.769.

Conclusions

The R-DAQ was developed with a predominantly UK-based sample of health professionals. This study indicates that this scale functions adequately and provides a valid measure of depression attitudes for medical practitioners in Pakistan, with the same factor structure as in the scale development sample. However, optimal scale function necessitated removal of several items, with a 15-item scale enabling the most parsimonious factor solution for this population.

Attitudes toward the mentally ill among community health-related personnel in South Korea

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Prejudice and negative attitudes toward mental illness are major obstacles in the rehabilitation and functional recovery of patients. The objective of this study was to evaluate the attitudes of health-related personnel toward mentally ill patients in a local urban community in South Korea.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In total, 401 participants (men, 132; women, 269; mean age, 37.3 ± 9.5 years) were recruited. The participants were health-related personnel in a district of Seoul, who were recruited from three different workplaces: a local administration office, a public health center, and a community welfare center. Sociodemographic data were gathered, and the community attitudes toward the mentally ill (CAMI) inventory were administered. Comparisons of the CAMI subscales were conducted among participants using statistical analysis.

RESULTS

Community welfare center workers showed more authoritarianism and social restriction and less community mental health ideology than the other two groups. Among the demographic variables, a shorter working career, higher education, female gender, and younger age were also related to a more negative attitude toward mentally ill patients.

CONCLUSION

Community health-related personnel who have contact with patients with mental illness should be encouraged to have a fair, hospitable, and open-minded attitude. It is advisable for these workers to receive interventions such as regular educational programs early in their careers.