title: Effect of diagnostic labeling and causal explanations on medical students' views about treatments for psychosis and the need to share information with service users.
abstract: This study examines whether medical students' views of treatments for 'schizophrenia' and of patients' rights to be informed about their condition and their medication were influenced by diagnostic labeling and causal explanations and whether they differed over medical training. Three hundred and eighty-one Italian students attending their first or fifth/sixth year of medical studies read a vignette portraying someone who met diagnostic criteria for 'schizophrenia' and completed a self-report questionnaire. The study found that labeling the case as 'schizophrenia' and naming heredity among its causes were associated with confidence in psychiatrists and psychiatric drugs. Naming psychological traumas among the causes was associated with confidence in psychologists and greater acknowledgment of users' right to be informed about drugs. Compared to first year students, those at their fifth/sixth-year of studies more strongly endorsed drugs, had less confidence in psychologists and family support, and were less keen to share information on drugs with patients. These findings highlight that students' beliefs vary during training and are significantly related to diagnostic labeling and belief in a biogenetic causal model. Psychiatric curricula for medical students should include greater integration of psychological and medical aspects in clinical management of 'schizophrenia'; more information on the psychosocial causes of mental health problems.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Second University of Naples, Viale Ellittico 31, 81100 Caserta, Italy. Electronic address: lorenza.magliano@unina2.it.
authors.forename: Lorenza
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Magliano
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Read
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sagliocchi
authors.forename: Melania
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Patalano
authors.forename: Nicoletta
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Oliviero
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008954:Models, Biological; D008960:Models, Psychological; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D013240:Stereotyping; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents
keywords: Beliefs; Information; Medical students; Schizophrenia; Treatments