Stigma and discrimination against people with schizophrenia related to medical services

J Harangozo, B Reneses, E Brohan, J Sebes, G Csukly, López-Ibor Jj, N Sartorius, D Rose and G Thornicroft

International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 2014, vol. 60, issue 4, 359-366

Abstract: Objective: To investigate whether people with schizophrenia experience discrimination when using health care services. Methods: A cross-sectional survey in 27 countries in centres affiliated to the INDIGO Research Network, using face-to-face interviews with 777 participants with schizophrenia (62% male and 38% female). We analysed the data related to health issues, including health care, disrespect of mental health staff, and also personal privacy, safety and security, starting a family, pregnancy and childbirth. Discrimination was measured by the Discrimination and Stigma Scale (DISC), which consists of 36 items comprising three sub-scales: positive experienced discrimination; negative experienced discrimination; and anticipated discrimination. Results: More than 17% of patients experienced discrimination when treated for physical health care problems. More than 38% of participants felt disrespected by mental health staff, with higher ratings in the post-communist countries. Conclusions: Mental health service providers have a key role in decreasing stigma in their provision of health care, and by doing more against stigmatizing and discriminating practices on the therapeutic and organizational level. This will require a change of attitudes and practices among mental and physical health care staff.

Keywords: Stigma; discrimination; schizophrenia; health services; integrated care; mental health services (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:socpsy:v:60:y:2014:i:4:p:359-366

DOI: 10.1177/0020764013490263

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