Books, Articles and Research

Current Issues in undergraduate psychiatry education: The findings of a qualitative study
The purpose of this article is to identify the current issues in undergraduate psychiatric education in the United Kingdom for lead teachers at United Kingdom medical schools.

Beat the stigma and discrimination! Four lessons for mental health advocates
This handbook focuses on correcting the disparity and increasing both opportunities and resources for people with mental illnesses by reviewing ways in which negative public attitudes might be reduced and more appropriate attitudes might be enhanced. Contact ADS Center staff to request a copy.

Language and stigma
Editorial letter discussing the paper, "'Difficult Patients in Mental Health Care: A Review." The author points out that the term "difficult patient" can be stigmatizing.

Homicidal maniacs and narcissistic parasites: stigmatization of mentally ill persons in the movies
The portrayal of mentally ill persons in movies and television programs has an important and underestimated influence on public perceptions of their condition and care. The authors suggest that mental health professionals can fight this source of stigma by increasing their collaboration with patient advocacy groups in monitoring negative portrayals of mentally ill people,

"Difficult patients" in mental health care: A review
This article provides an overview of what is known about "difficult patients" in mental health care. It aims to answer three main questions: What are the defining characteristics of difficult patients, how is the difficulty explained, and which treatment strategies are available?

Preferred terms for users of mental health services among service providers and recipients
The terms used to refer to recipients of psychiatric services continue to be controversial. Terms in current use include "patient," "client," "consumer," and "survivor." In this study, mental health service recipients and providers were surveyed about their preferences among these terms, and responses were analyzed to identify factors associated with various preferences.

What's in a Name? Terms preferred by service recipients
A large multi-site study examining effectiveness of consumer operated service programs as an adjunct to traditional mental health services. Researchers examined individuals' preferred term describing their status as service recipients.

Effects of an antistigma program on medical students' attitudes toward people with schizophrenia
The purpose of this study was to examine whether an antistigma program which consists of education, contact, and viewing a film that depicts an individual with schizophrenia, can change attitudes towards people with schizophrenia.

What is in a name? Professionals and service users' opinions of the Hebrew terms used to name psychiatric disorders and disability
Stigma constitutes the hidden burden of mental disorders. Its ubiquitous presence may be reinforced by iatrogenic factors, such as the terms used to name mental disorders and disability. This preliminary study examines opinions with regard to the use of these terms in Hebrew.

The sympathetic discriminator: Mental illness, hedonic costs, and the ADA
Discrimination against people with mental illness occurs in part because of how those with mental illness can make other people feel.Thus, a central basis for discrimination in this context is what I call hedonic costs. Hedonic costs are affective or emotional costs: an influx of negative emotion or loss of positive emotion. In addition, the phenomenon of emotional contagion, which is one source of hedonic costs, makes discrimination against people with mental illness peculiarly intractable.

Talking about mental illness: An evaluation of an anti-stigma and educational program in Hamilton, Ontario
An evaluation of the "Talking About Mental Illness" program and its effectiveness in decreasing stigmatizing attitudes and increasing understanding of mental illness.

'She's manipulative and he's right off': A critical analysis of psychiatric nurses' oral and written language in the acute inpatient setting.
This paper critiques the language nurses use in acute inpatient psychiatry services, highlighting the diverse discourses implicated in nurses' writing and speaking about patients.

Words have power: (Re)-defining serious emotional disturbance for American Indian and Alaska Native children and their families
Circles of Care grantees were provided the opportunity to develop a locally relevant definition of serious emotional disturbance (SED) that would be used to define what type of emotional, behavioral, and mental disability would be required to receive services. The definitions for SED developed by rural grantees included American Indian and Alaska Native concepts specific to each tribal community?s culture.

When labels mask oppression: Implications for teaching psychiatric taxonomy to mental health counselors
Mental health counseling programs have an ethical responsibility to teach students to think about the sociopolitical context in which behaviors become understood as symptoms of mental disorders. Elaborating on this idea, the author discusses the importance of critical thinking and of adopting a reflective comportment when mental health counselors are engaged in the process of psychiatric diagnosis.

Appropriate language in discussing mental illness
A brief article discussing the use of appropriate language, when discussing mental illnesses. Following these suggestions can help to communicate acceptance and understanding.

Diminution of 'self'
This article is adapted from a speech the author gave at the Florida Self-Directed Care conference, in which he addressed how language affects the individual.

Effect of labeling on public attitudes toward people with schizophrenia: Are there cultural differences
A representative survey was recently conducted in Germany and concluded that labeling as mental illness has an impact on public attitudes towards people with schizophrenia, with negative effects clearly outweighing positive effects. In this study, we will examine whether this result can be replicated in other countries.

How definition of mental health problems can influence help seeking in rural and remote communites
The present study sought to understand the rural and remote influences on people's identification of, and response to, mental health problems.

Challenging stigma and discrimination in communities: A focus group study identifying UK mental health services users' main campaign priorities
This study was conducted to explore mental health service users' views on how campaigns to address stigma and discrimination should prioritise their actions

Effects of an educational program on public attitudes towards mental illness
The World Psychiatric Association promotes global anti-stigma programs. However, evaluation research is crucial to developing effective programs. The present study examined the effects of a lecture on mental health on public attitudes towards mental illness. Subjects were recruited from individuals employed by private companies and the government. Attitudes towards mental illness were measured using the Mental Illness and Disorder Understanding Scale developed by the authors and the Scale of Negative Attitudes Towards the Independence of People with Mental Disorders. Test scores obtained before and after the lecture were compared. The results demonstrated that scores on both scales improved significantly. The present study suggests the effectiveness of this type of educational program in reducing stigma attached to mental illness and disorder.

At issue: Stop the stigma: Call mental illness a brain disease
Educating the public that mental illness is a brain disease is a popular strategy for combating mental illness stigma. Evidence suggests that while such an approach reduces blame for mental illness, it may unintentionally exacerbate other components of stigma, particularly the benevolence and dangerousness of stigmas. Researchers propose a balanced approach that combats the various myths about mental illness with factual information.

Use of schizophrenia as a metaphor in U.S. newspapers
Research has identified misleading and stigmatizing popular beliefs about schizophrenia, but little is known about media images corresponding to these beliefs. Building on Susan Sontag's exploration of cancer in the 1978 book Illness as Metaphor, the authors hypothesize that "schizophrenia" is now more commonly misused.

Real shame
People with psychiatric disabilities often are shunned. Ensconced in a separate array of interventions that are isolating and insulating, people with psychiatric disabilities also can be discredited with a mental-health specific language. This essay asks the mental health leadership to help align psychiatric disability with other disabilities. The author suggests relational advocacy, advocacy that does not disparage people who experience mood swings, fear, voices and visions.

Implications of educating the public on mental illness, violence, and stigma
This study examined how two types of public education programs influenced how the public perceived persons with mental illness, their potential for violence, and the stigma of mental illness.