Emotional reactions to the mentally ill are positively influenced by personal acquaintance.
The study sought to evaluate whether personal acquaintance with a psychiatric patient increases or decreases stigmatization.


METHODS
The research was carried out in a Turkish university. The Social Distance Scale and the Affective Reaction Scale were completed by final year students. The subjects were then asked whether they have ever been acquainted with a patient with a mental disorder.


RESULTS
Subjects who had not been acquainted with a patient with mental disorder had a higher score on the Affective Reaction Scale than subjects who had been acquainted.


CONCLUSIONS
This finding suggests that acquaintance with a psychiatric patient reduces negative emotions towards people with mental disorders. It is suggested that this result is related to the resolution of sensitization.
Arikan
K
K
Department of Psychiatry and Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, University of Istanbul, Turkey. mkarikan@escortnet.com
Uysal
O
O
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology*