Beliefs and attitudes of psychiatric outpatients toward mental disorders and antidepressants

Abstract

Introduction: The present study aims to investigate a group of young adult psychiatric outpatients’ knowledge of and attitude toward mental disorder and antidepressants, and determine the relevant factors affecting them.Methods: The study included 81 patients attending the psychiatric outpatient clinic, diagnosed with adjustment disorders, depression and/or anxiety disorder based on DSM-5 criteria, and met the research requirements. The data were collected through an information form for sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, a form to evaluate the knowledge of and attitudes toward the use of antidepressants, and based on the Beliefs Toward Mental Illness Scale (BMI). Severity of depression and anxiety was evaluated with Beck’s Depression Inventory and Beck’s Anxiety Inventory. Results: Regarding age groups, individuals in the 26-32 age group had higher overall scores. The patients with major depression were found to have higher BMI scores. The linear regression analysis revealed that age, education, depression severity and attitudes toward antidepressants were the factors associated with the overall BMI scoresConclusions: This study suggests that some sociodemographic variables, i.e. (age and educational statue), severity of depression and attitudes toward antidepressants are likely influence the beliefs toward mental disorders. Keywords: Mental disorders, beliefs, attitudes, antidepressants