Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://observatorio.fm.usp.br/handle/OPI/2129
Title: Stigma toward schizophrenia: do all psychiatrists behave the same? Latent profile analysis of a national sample of psychiatrists in Brazil
Authors: LOCH, Alexandre AndradeGUARNIERO, Francisco BevilacquaLAWSON, Fabio LoreaHENGARTNER, Michael PascalROESSLER, WulfGATTAZ, Wagner FaridWANG, Yuan-Pang
Citation: BMC PSYCHIATRY, v.13, article ID 92, 10p, 2013
Abstract: Background: An important issue concerning the worldwide fight against stigma is the evaluation of psychiatrists' beliefs and attitudes toward schizophrenia and mental illness in general. However, there is as yet no consensus on this matter in the literature, and results vary according to the stigma dimension assessed and to the cultural background of the sample. The aim of this investigation was to search for profiles of stigmatizing beliefs related to schizophrenia in a national sample of psychiatrists in Brazil. Methods: A sample of 1414 psychiatrists were recruited from among those attending the 2009 Brazilian Congress of Psychiatry. A questionnaire was applied in face-to-face interviews. The questionnaire addressed four stigma dimensions, all in reference to individuals with schizophrenia: stereotypes, restrictions, perceived prejudice and social distance. Stigma item scores were included in latent profile analyses; the resulting profiles were entered into multinomial logistic regression models with sociodemographics, in order to identify significant correlates. Results: Three profiles were identified. The ""no stigma"" subjects (n = 337) characterized individuals with schizophrenia in a positive light, disagreed with restrictions, and displayed a low level of social distance. The ""unobtrusive stigma"" subjects (n = 471) were significantly younger and displayed the lowest level of social distance, although most of them agreed with involuntary admission and demonstrated a high level of perceived prejudice. The ""great stigma"" subjects (n = 606) negatively stereotyped individuals with schizophrenia, agreed with restrictions and scored the highest on the perceived prejudice and social distance dimensions. In comparison with the first two profiles, this last profile comprised a significantly larger number of individuals who were in frequent contact with a family member suffering from a psychiatric disorder, as well as comprising more individuals who had no such family member. Conclusions: Our study not only provides additional data related to an under-researched area but also reveals that psychiatrists are a heterogeneous group regarding stigma toward schizophrenia. The presence of different stigma profiles should be evaluated in further studies; this could enable anti-stigma initiatives to be specifically designed to effectively target the stigmatizing group.
Appears in Collections:

Artigos e Materiais de Revistas Científicas - FM/MPS
Departamento de Psiquiatria - FM/MPS

Artigos e Materiais de Revistas Científicas - HC/IPq
Instituto de Psiquiatria - HC/IPq

Artigos e Materiais de Revistas Científicas - LIM/21
LIM/21 - Laboratório de Neuroimagem em Psiquiatria

Artigos e Materiais de Revistas Científicas - LIM/23
LIM/23 - Laboratório de Psicopatologia e Terapêutica Psiquiátrica

Artigos e Materiais de Revistas Científicas - LIM/27
LIM/27 - Laboratório de Neurociências


Files in This Item:
File Description SizeFormat 
art_LOCH_Stigma_toward_schizophrenia_do_all_psychiatrists_behave_the_2013.PDFpublishedVersion (English)209.63 kBAdobe PDFThumbnail
View/Open

Items in DSpace are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.