title: Effects of a psychiatric label on medical residents' attitudes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Few data are available on the effects of a psychiatric label on medical residents' attitudes towards an individual.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of a psychiatric label on the attitudes of medical residents towards an individual.
  
  
  METHODS
  Medical residents were randomly assigned to one of two vignettes describing the same apparently healthy person, differing only in the presence of a psychiatric label for one of them. Participants (N = 322) reported their attitudes towards the described individual and their willingness to treat this person.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Residents allocated to the psychiatric-diagnostic label group reported being less at ease with becoming the individual's nextdoor neighbour, working in the same place, sharing a house, having him look after their children, having a member of their family date him, having their finances run by the individual, less willing to become friends with the described individual and more uneasy having to examine him the next time he visits the emergency room.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Implementing effective programmes to combat stigma in the curriculum of medical residents appears to be needed.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire du Stress Traumatique, CHU de Toulouse & Université de Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: Audrey
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Neauport
authors.forename: Rachel F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Rodgers
authors.forename: Naomi M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Simon
authors.forename: Philippe J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Birmes
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Schmitt
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bui
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D016079:Refusal to Treat; D013240:Stereotyping