Abstract
Despite their training, psychiatrists have been found to have negative attitudes towards people with mental illness, including the patients they treat. Similarly, studies focused on service users have identified psychiatrists as a source of stigma. Even though negative attitudes in psychiatrists have been identified in different countries and settings, in Mexico the attitudes of these professionals have never been assessed. Because of this, we invited psychiatric trainees from a hospital in Mexico to participate in individual interviews to describe their opinions regarding mental health-related stigma, to evaluate their attitudes towards people with mental illness and to identify factors that could be influencing their attitudes. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis. A total of 29 trainees participated in the study. The results suggested that trainees recognised psychiatrists can have negative attitudes towards people with mental illness, such as poor empathy, judgement and labelling, and mainly towards patients considered difficult and with borderline personality disorder. Participants recognised these attitudes can influence their relationship with patients, and considered it is necessary to develop interventions to improve their own attitudes and reduce mental health stigma. From this study we concluded Mexican psychiatrists are not free from stigma towards people with mental illness. However, Mexican psychiatric trainees are interested in improving their attitudes and reactions towards their patients.
Highlights
Despite their specialised knowledge and training, psychiatrists have been recognised as holding stigmatising attitudes and behaviours, as well as stereotypes and desire for social distance, from people with mental health problems (Gras et al, 2014; Lauber et al, 2006; Loch et al, 2013; Nordt et al, 2006)
In a recent study focused on mental health service users, participants considered psychiatrists can have negative attitudes towards people with mental illness, which could in consequence impact on their treatment (Lagunes-Cordoba et al, 2020)
This suggests mental health professionals in Mexico, including psychiatrists, might have negative attitudes towards people with mental illness, including the patients they treat, attitudes which could potentially impact on the care they provide to their patients
Summary
Despite their specialised knowledge and training, psychiatrists have been recognised as holding stigmatising attitudes and behaviours, as well as stereotypes and desire for social distance, from people with mental health problems (Gras et al, 2014; Lauber et al, 2006; Loch et al, 2013; Nordt et al, 2006). Mora-Rios & Bautista (2014) reported that service users in Mexico considered health care personnel as the second source of stigma and discrimination, preceded only by their family members. In a recent study focused on mental health service users, participants considered psychiatrists can have negative attitudes towards people with mental illness, which could in consequence impact on their treatment (Lagunes-Cordoba et al, 2020). This suggests mental health professionals in Mexico, including psychiatrists, might have negative attitudes towards people with mental illness, including the patients they treat, attitudes which could potentially impact on the care they provide to their patients. We aimed to use the results of this study to develop a targeted anti-stigma intervention for this population (Lagunes-Cordoba et al, 2021)
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