STIGMA AND PSYCHIATRIC ILLNESS. A SURVEY OF ATTITUDE OF MEDICAL STUDENTS AND DOCTORS IN LAHORE, PAKISTAN
Abstract
Background: The stigma attached to mental illness in the West is now well recognised. There ishowever, only limited information available on this topic from the developing countries.
Measurement of stigma among medical students and doctors is straightforward to carry out
allowing targeted work to educate doctors in countries with few resources. This study was carried
out to assess the attitude of medical students and doctors, attending medical colleges in Lahore,
Pakistan. Methods: A survey was circulated among the medical students and the doctors of the
three medical colleges in Lahore, Pakistan. 294 (59%) of the 500 survey forms sent out were
returned. Results: Just over half of the respondents held negative attitudes towards people with
schizophrenia, depression, drug and alcohol disorders. However, most had favourable views of the
recovery and treatability of the mental disorders. Conclusions: The views held by the medical
students and the doctors in Lahore, Pakistan are broadly similar to the opinions expressed by the
medical students and doctors in the UK.
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