Controversies in Psychiatry Flashcards
1
Q
Stigma
A
A social construction that devalues people due to a distinguishing characteristic or mark
2
Q
Discrimination
A
The actual behaviour towards another group. It involves excluding or restricting members of one group from opportunities that are available to other groups
3
Q
Prejudice
A
A prejudgement i.e. an assumption made about someone or something before having adequate knowledge to be able to do so with guaranteed accuracy
4
Q
What essentially is stigma?
A
- Negative differentiation due to particular condition or state
- Leads to discriminatory practices
- Like prejudice, stigma involves definitions of character and class identification
5
Q
How is stigma developed?
A
- Attitudes develop early in childhood
- Stigmas are usually over many years
- Influenced by personal experience
- Usually older males with less education
- Tolerance depends on closeness of interaction
- Little change in attitudes over last 50 years
6
Q
How is stigmatisation reinforced?
A
- Beliefs reinforce by sensational media reports
- Portrayal of uncontrollable killers
- Relatives: depiction of mental illness in movies most important contributor to stigmatisation
7
Q
How can stigma be reduced?
A
- See Me campaign: government campaign
- Speak to the public
Individual level
- Good med management
- CBT approach to overcome it
- Consider own attitudes
- Influence of celebrities
- Abolish ‘Us and Them’ attitude
8
Q
What issues are there with the psychiatry diagnosis?
A
- Diagnosis is purely clinical
- Social control
- Treatment without consent
- Rising rates of antidepressant prescription
- Security
- Detention
