title: Attitude of interns towards mental illness and psychiatry: A study from two medical colleges in South India.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aims to assess the intern's beliefs about mental illness, their attitude towards psychiatry and psychiatry as a career choice.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a cross-sectional design, one hundred and seventy six interns from the two medical colleges completed the Belief about Mental illness scale and Attitudes Towards Psychiatry (ATP-29) scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Majority of the interns considered mentally ill patients as dangerous, unpredictable, cannot take up major responsibilities, cannot be a good parent, have poor interpersonal or social skills. The attitude towards psychiatry overall, functioning of a psychiatrist, efficacy of psychiatry treatment was found to be good in over 90% of the interns. The attitude towards career and reward aspect of psychiatry was not favorable in about 40%. About 13% considered psychiatry as a career choice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Beliefs about mental illness continue to be negative. Though the attitude towards psychiatry, psychiatrist and treatment efficacy is good, the social and reward aspects of psychiatry are not encouraging. Steps for changes in undergraduate medical education policies are required.
authors: Dept. of Psychiatry, Shadan Institute of Medical Sciences, Peeramcheru, Near Kalimandir, Chevella Road, Hyderabad, Telangana 500 086, India. Electronic address: Krishna.kodakandla@gmail.com.
authors: Krishna
authors: K
authors: Kodakandla
authors: Dept. of Psychiatry, Dr. V.R.K Women's Medical College, Aziznagar, Ranga Reddy District, Hyderabad, Telangana 500 075, India.
authors: Minhajzafar
authors: M
authors: Nasirabadi
authors: Dept. of Psychiatry, Shadan Institute of Medical Sciences, Peeramcheru, Near Kalimandir, Chevella Road, Hyderabad, Telangana 500 086, India.
authors: Mohammed Shahid
authors: MS
authors: Pasha
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel / Q000208:ethnology*; D002321:Career Choice; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice / Q000208:ethnology*; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000208:ethnology; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000208:ethnology*; D011570:Psychiatry; D012577:Schools, Medical; D013337:Students, Medical; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Attitude towards psychiatrists; Attitude towards psychiatry; Beliefs about mental illness; Career choice of medical students; Psychiatry as career choice