title: [Patient, client or...--the terms preferred in mental health services].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyse the patients' and staff opinions on preferred terms in regards recipients of mental health services.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 2008, 489 patients and 318 providers from one of Warsaw mental health services answered the survey on preferred terms in regards recipients of mental health services anonymously.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The term "patient" was the most preferred, as well as by the recipients (77.5%), as the providers (87.7%) of the services. The second choice in both groups, however much less preferred was the term "person with mental disorders" (respectively 18.2% and 22.3%) and indicated by the patients "person using mental health services" (18.2%). The less preferred were the terms: "user" (2.0% by the patients, 1.6% the providers), "beneficiary" (respectively 3.3%, 2.5%), "client" (5.5%, 5%). The patients from day hospitals and community based facilities also favoured the term "patient" (85.0% responders). In spite of staff occupation and number of years spent working in mental health services, the term "patient" was the most preferred one.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The term "patient" was the most preferred one in the group of patients and service providers. The form of services provided did not differentiate the patients' opinion in regards to the preferred terms. Occupation and number of years spent working in mental health services did not differentiate the providers' opinion in regards to the preferred terms. Further dialogue on the preferred terms is needed, since they might empower or stigmatise.
authors: I Klinika Psychiatryczna IPiN w Warszawie.
authors: Marta
authors: M
authors: Anczewska
authors: Piotr
authors: P
authors: Switaj
authors: Justyna
authors: J
authors: Waszkiewicz
authors: Anna
authors: A
authors: Indulska
authors: Katarzyna
authors: K
authors: Prot
authors: Joanna
authors: J
authors: Raduj
authors: Maciej
authors: M
authors: Pałyska