Attitudes of psychiatry residents toward mental illness

4Citations
Citations of this article
10Readers
Mendeley users who have this article in their library.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Attitudes of lay people and physicians towards mentally ill patients are frequently highly biased. The aim of this study was to investigate differences in attitudes of psychiatry and internal medicine residents toward mental illness and to establish the relationship between their attitudes and their personal characteristics. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The sample consisted of 45 psychiatry and 36 internal medicine residents. The attitudes toward mental illness were assessed using Opinions about Mental Illness Questionnaire (OMI) and personality traits were examined using the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ). RESULTS: Our findings showed that in regard to internal medicine residents, psychiatry residents do not consider mentally ill patients to be inferior and dangerous. Psychiatry residents have a benevolent attitude toward the mentally ill. Personality traits of psychiatry residents were not related to their opinions about mental illness. DISCUSSION: The results suggest that there is a need to develop strategies that would bring about changes in the curriculum of training programs for medical residents, including proper training in mental health issues. Such strategies should help in destigmatization of persons with mental disorders and increase the competence of physicians to deal with mentally ill.

Cite

CITATION STYLE

APA

Pejović-Milovancević, M., Lecić-Tosevski, D., Tenjović, L., Draganić-Gajić, S., Christodoulou, G. N., & Stepanović, J. (2007). Attitudes of psychiatry residents toward mental illness. Medicinski Pregled, 60(7–8), 382–386. https://doi.org/10.2298/MPNS0708382P

Register to see more suggestions

Mendeley helps you to discover research relevant for your work.

Already have an account?

Save time finding and organizing research with Mendeley

Sign up for free