General Hospital Psychiatry
Volume 27, Issue 5 , Pages 359-364, September 2005

Stigma toward the mentally ill in the general hospital: a qualitative study

  • Jackie Liggins, M.B.Ch.B., F.R.A.N.Z.C.P.

      Affiliations

    • Department of Liaison Psychiatry, Middlemore Hospital, Private Bag 93311, Auckland 1, New Zealand
  • ,
  • Simon Hatcher, B.Sc., M.B.B.S., M.Med.Sci., M.R.C.Psych., F.R.A.N.Z.C.P., M.D.

      Affiliations

    • Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1, New Zealand
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Tel.: +64 9 373 7599x86750.

Received 15 March 2005; accepted 17 May 2005.

Abstract 

Background

Stigma associated with mental illness is frequently reported in the community but there is little published information about stigma within general hospitals.

Objectives

The objective of this study was to describe the experience of stigma in patients and health professionals using a Liaison Psychiatry service in a general hospital.

Design

We used a grounded theory qualitative method to analyze audiotaped interviews of participants.

Setting

A general hospital in Auckland, New Zealand.

Subjects

Ten participants, five patients and five referrers.

Measurements

The qualitative method generated various categories that made up the construct of “stigma” in the general hospital.

Results

A central category of “Relating Mind to Matter” was developed and linked to the major categories of “It's a Scary Business,” “It's All Hopeless,” “She's One of Them,” “Expressions of Relatedness,” “You are Not Genuinely Ill” and “Playing by the Roles.”

Conclusion

The presence, or suspicion, of a mental illness in a patient has a negative impact in the general hospital setting. The key experiences are silence, disbelief and invalidation. The category title “Relating Mind to Matter” refers to the tensions in the patient–health professional relationship and to the uncomfortable relationship between the mind and the body.

Keywords: Stigma, General Hospital, Liaison Psychiatry, Qualitative research

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PII: S0163-8343(05)00070-8

doi:10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2005.05.006

General Hospital Psychiatry
Volume 27, Issue 5 , Pages 359-364, September 2005