Controversies in Psychiatry

Question 1

What is stigma?

Answer 1

A social construct that devalues people due to a distinguishing characteristic or mark

Question 2

What is discrimination?

Answer 2

The actual behaviour towards another group

It involves excluding or restricting members of one group from opportunities that are available to other groups

Question 3

What is prejudice?

Answer 3

A prejudgement i.e. an assumption made about someone or something before having adequate knowledge to be able to do so with guaranteed accuracy

Question 4

Features of stigma

Answer 4

Negative differentiation due to particular condition or state
Leads to discriminatory practices
Cf prejudice, stigma involved definitions of character and class identification
Attitudes develop in early childhood
Stable over many years
Influenced by personal experience
Older males with less education tend to have more stigmatised attitudes
Tolerance depends on closeness of interaction

Question 5

Why is there stigma associated with mental illness?

Answer 5

Beliefs reinforced by sensational media reports
Portrayal of uncontrollable killers
Depiction of mental illness in films/media

Question 6

Approaches to combatting stigma

Answer 6

Individuals
Good medication management
CBT approach to help individuals who feel stigmatised overcome “felt” stigma
Consider own attitudes and awareness
Get rid of “us and them” attitude between different specialties
Influence of celebrities

Question 7

Areas of controversy in psychiatry

Answer 7

Diagnosis controversies e.g. ADHD
Social control 
Treatment without consent 
Rising rates of antidepressant prescription
Security 
Detention