Physicians' and medical students' beliefs and attitudes toward psychotic disorders: A systematic review

• Published in: Journal of psychosomatic research Vol. 163; p. 111054
• Main Authors: Le Glaz, A., Lemey, C., Berrouiguet, S., Walter, M., Lemogne, C., Flahault, C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Inc 01.12.2022; Elsevier
• Subjects: Attitude of Health Personnel; Female; General Practitioners; Human health and pathology; Humans; Life Sciences; Medical students; Physicians; Psychiatrics and mental health; Psychosis; Psychotic Disorders; Schizophrenia; Social Stigma; Stigma; Students, Medical - psychology; Psychosis; Medical students; Stigma; Physicians; stigma; physicians; medical students; psychosis
• ISSN: 0022-3999; 1879-1360
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2022.111054

The aim of this study was to analyze physicians' and medical students' (MS) beliefs and attitudes toward people with psychotic disorders. This systematic review follows the PRISMA guidelines. It was conducted on 5 databases (Pubmed, PsycINFO, Pascal & Francis, Scopus and EMBASE) with a keyword string combining words for physicians' and students' professional status, attitudes toward people, and psychotic disorders. No limitations on publication dates were imposed. This review includes 39 articles, among which quantitative studies are in the majority, and general practioners are mainly represented. Schizophrenia is the main condition used to illustrate psychotic disorders and measure stigmatizing attitudes. Physicians' and MS' beliefs toward people with psychotic disorders are mainly represented by dangerousness and unpredictability. They can be reinforced with socio-demographic criteria (age and female gender) or physicians' beliefs about the disease's etiology. The desire for social distance is higher toward patients with schizophrenia compared to other psychiatric disorders, and medical care could be impacted with a tendency to refer them at psychiatric specific care or to anticipate their difficulties and to modify their treatment plan. Stigma scores remain globally high during medical training. Even if specific anti-stigma trainings have a positive impact on beliefs and attitudes, these effects do not last in time. This review highlights the importance to explore physicians' and medical students' representations about patient with psychosis to understand better their difficulties in the management of these patients. •Physicians mostly considered patients with schizophrenia as dangerous individuals.•Some negative opinions about schizophrenia persist after medical training.•Physicians' opinions may lead to a loss of opportunity for patients with psychosis.•Specific anti-stigma trainings are required for physicians and medical students.