Health care professionals attitudes towards individuals diagnosed with severe mental illness
Abstract
<?Pub Inc> The purpose of this dissertation is to critically examine the attitudes of health care professionals' attitudes towards individuals with severe mental illness. Severe mental illnesses (SMI) are major social and public health issues in the United States and Canada. Severe mental illness may include individuals with a diagnosis of schizophrenia, major depression, bipolar disorder, mood disorders, and some of the personality disorders. The monetary cost attributed to mental illness is staggering; however, the human cost, i.e., the psychosocial and social issues that affect patients' and family members are immeasurable. The most debilitating and costly of all mental illness is schizophrenia, which for most individuals affects employment and social interaction and requires society support for a lifetime, which usually includes medical expenses. Research has shown that mental health professionals' attitudes toward individuals with serious mental illness differ among several domains. Research also shows that professionals in the mental health field are more likely to believe that individuals with SMI are stigmatized and discriminated against by society more than the general population. Furthermore, mental health professionals have more of a negative view than the general population in regards to the long-term treatment outcome for individuals with SMI. This study posited that health care professionals' education, academic background, years of experience, in-service training, and professional satisfaction will have an effect on their attitudes towards individuals with severe mental illness. In addition, the study posited that the above mentioned areas will also have an effect on their attitudes towards recovery for individuals with SMI. A path analysis model was used to examine the relationship between the dependent and independent variables, but also to examine the relationship between the independent variables. It was found that education and academic background significantly correlated with health care professionals' attitude towards individuals with SMI. Education was negatively correlated with attitudes as determine by the Opinions of Mental Illness (OMI) survey. The higher the level of education, the more negative the attitude is towards individuals with SMI. In terms of academic background, results reveal significant differences between nurses and the allied group (psychologists, social workers, clinical counselors, occupational therapists). Individuals from the allied group are more likely to have a positive attitude towards individuals with SMI and are likely to endorse and view the concept of recovery as positive. Results indicated that professional satisfaction was significantly correlated with attitude. Health care professionals that are satisfied professionally tended to have a more positive attitude towards individuals with SMI in the area of recovery and tended to be more optimistic in the treatment and care of these individuals. In addition, statistical significance was not obtained between years of experience and overall attitude. However, in-service training did account for health care professionals' having a positive attitude towards individuals with SMI and they were more likely to have a positive view on individuals with SMI being able to recover.
Subject Area
Mental health,School counseling
Recommended Citation
Sonja Grbevski,
"Health care professionals attitudes towards individuals diagnosed with severe mental illness"
(January 1, 2009).
ETD Collection for Wayne State University.
Paper AAI3365817.
http://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/dissertations/AAI3365817
View More
