Increased Knowledge among Psychiatric Medical Interns does not Reduce the Stigmatization of Mental Disorders

ABSTRACT Introduction Considering the high prevalence of mental illnesses, it is essential for any physician to offer proper treatment and attention to people with these disorders. Nevertheless, the usual stigma and lack of knowledge regarding the management of mental disorders on the part of physicians can represent a significant barrier to treatment and inefficiency faced by patients in the health care system. Objective This study aimed to measure the gain of psychiatric knowledge and the reduction in the stigmatization of people with schizophrenia by medical students after exposure to the compulsory internship program at a public medical school in the Federal District. Methods Quasi-experimental study to evaluate the impact of the training program during medical internship in the final year of undergraduate medical training. The sample was 35 final-year medical students. Questionnaires were applied to measure the degree and type of stigma in relation to schizophrenia and self-perception regarding the drug management and treatment of psychiatric diseases. A three-point Likert scale was used to measure the results. The questionnaires were applied immediately before and after exposure to the four-week training program. The medical values of self-perception and stigma were compared between two moments using the Student’s t test. Results: There was no statistically significant difference found between stigmatization before and after the intervention (total stereotype, p = 0.230; perceived prejudice, p = 0.172; social distance, p = 0.209; civil rights, p = 0.837). Regarding self-perception of knowledge, the number of items reaching total confidence and the mean values after the training were significantly improved (p = 0.007 and p < 0.0001, respectively). There was no correlation with sociodemographic characteristics. Conclusion Despite the knowledge gain, medical students failed to show any improvement in the degree of stigma held after immersion in a 4-week practical psychiatric training program. The short duration of the intervention might have meant that the students’ contact with patients was insufficient to reduce stigma. More studies are needed with larger groups and experimental designs.