Knowledge of mental health diagnosis among patients and their family members: an inpatient survey in China

Abstract

Background Patient-oriented information disclosure has been advocated by the National Mental Health Law (NMHL) in China since 2012; however, reporting on diagnostic disclosure to patients with mental disorders after the NMHL is limited. Amis This study aims to investigate and compare the knowledge of mental health diagnosis among patients and their family members in China. Methods An inpatient survey was conducted among 205 patients with mental disorders and their family members. Group differences of the correctness of self-reported mental health diagnosis were compared, and logistic regression was performed to investigate correlates among both patients and their family members. Results Overall, 76.7% patients and 80.6% of their family members reported a correct diagnosis. Only 46.2% patients with psychotic disorders correctly knew their diagnosis, significantly lower than their family members and patients with non-psychotic disorders. Multivariate regression analysis found that the diagnosis of psychotic disorders was a risk factor of patients’ diagnostic knowledge (AOR = 0.137; 95% CI = 0.044–0.429), while family members’ diagnostic knowledge was associated with their employment (AOR = 6.125, 95% CI = 1.942–19.323) and parent-child relationship with patients (AOR = 3.719; 95% CI = 1.057–13.086). Conclusions The majority of patients with non-psychotic disorders know their diagnosis correctly and informing family members of patients’ diagnosis remains a common practice in psychiatric setting after the implementation of China’s NMHL.