Perceived mental illness stigma by medical students prior and after psychiatric training
Authors:   Psychiatric Department of Neurosciences, Psychiatry and Pediatric Psychiatry Chair, “Iuliu Hatieganu“ University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania, Paunescu Ramona L. ,   Psychiatric Clinic, Emergency County Hospital Cluj-Napoca, Romania, Crecan-Suciu Bianca D. ,   Psychiatric Department of Neurosciences, Psychiatry and Pediatric Psychiatry Chair, “Iuliu Hatieganu“ University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania,   Psychiatric Clinic, Emergency County Hospital Cluj-Napoca, Romania, Bonea Maria ,   Psychiatric Department of Neurosciences, Psychiatry and Pediatric Psychiatry Chair, “Iuliu Hatieganu“ University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania, Verisezan Rosu Olivia ,   Psychiatric Department of Neurosciences, Psychiatry and Pediatric Psychiatry Chair, “Iuliu Hatieganu“ University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania,   RoNeuro Institute for Neurological Research and Diagnostic, Cluj-Napoca, Romania, Miclutia Ioana V. ,   Psychiatric Department of Neurosciences, Psychiatry and Pediatric Psychiatry Chair, “Iuliu Hatieganu“ University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania,   Psychiatric Clinic, Emergency County Hospital Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Published: October 2023

Introduction. Patients diagnosed with mental health conditions are affected by high levels of stigma emerging from society, families, and medical care providers. The latter is one of the main reasons for difficult access and/or inadequate medical care received by psychiatric patients and for their increased number of comorbidities. Objective. The present study aimed to assess the levels of stigma towards patients diagnosed with mental illness expressed by six-year medical students, before and after the seven-week psychiatry clinical internship. Methods. Six-year medical students from Romanian and foreign languages sections filled out a questionnaire with demographic data, questions regarding their opinions on mental patients, and on the probability of choosing psychiatry as their specialty. Additionally, they completed a discrimination and devaluation questionnaire. The completion of questionnaires was performed twice: before the beginning and at the end of their clinical psychiatric internship. Results. A total of 349 students answered the questionnaires, belonging to different groups: Romanian group represented by 177 students, the English students as a total of 114, and the French students group represented by 58. In both evaluations, Romanian students showed higher levels of discrimination and increased reservation in approaching or understanding patients diagnosed with psychiatric illnesses. Significant mentality changes were noticed regarding the lack of difference between a mentally ill patient and a patient with physical health illnesses and in the process of how psychiatric patients should be treated. Conclusions. Cultural aspects and previous health education have a higher influence on perceived stigma in mental illness compared to other factors. Direct contact with patients did not change the perceptions of medical students and did not impact career options in a significant way.