TY - JOUR
T1 - Communicating a schizophrenia diagnosis to patients and families
T2 - A qualitative study of mental health clinicians
AU - Outram, Sue
AU - Harris, Gillian
AU - Kelly, Brian
AU - Cohen, Martin
AU - Sandhu, Harsimrat
AU - Vamos, Marina
AU - Levin, Tomer T.
AU - Landa, Yulia
AU - Bylund-Lincoln, Carma L.
AU - Loughland, Carmel
PY - 2014/4/1
Y1 - 2014/4/1
N2 - Objective: The aim of this research was to explore mental health clinicians' experiences and perceptions of discussing a diagnosis of schizophrenia with their patients. The results of this research will inform a communication skills training program for psychiatry trainees. Methods: Semistructured interviews were conducted with 16 mental health clinicians from public mental health services in New South Wales, Australia. Interviews were recorded and transcribed for qualitative analysis. Results: Although most clinicians supported the need to give patients a named diagnosis of schizophrenia, most gave multiple reasons for not doing so in practice. The reasons given centered on concerns for the patient; they included fear ofmaking an incorrect diagnosis, fear of the patient's distress, and harm from stigma. Conclusions: Mental health clinicians need to reflect on their own feelings, examine personal identification with their patients, and recognize the subtle interplay of hope and pessimism in their communication of a schizophrenia diagnosis.
AB - Objective: The aim of this research was to explore mental health clinicians' experiences and perceptions of discussing a diagnosis of schizophrenia with their patients. The results of this research will inform a communication skills training program for psychiatry trainees. Methods: Semistructured interviews were conducted with 16 mental health clinicians from public mental health services in New South Wales, Australia. Interviews were recorded and transcribed for qualitative analysis. Results: Although most clinicians supported the need to give patients a named diagnosis of schizophrenia, most gave multiple reasons for not doing so in practice. The reasons given centered on concerns for the patient; they included fear ofmaking an incorrect diagnosis, fear of the patient's distress, and harm from stigma. Conclusions: Mental health clinicians need to reflect on their own feelings, examine personal identification with their patients, and recognize the subtle interplay of hope and pessimism in their communication of a schizophrenia diagnosis.
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/84901848396
U2 - 10.1176/appi.ps.201300202
DO - 10.1176/appi.ps.201300202
M3 - Article
C2 - 24687107
AN - SCOPUS:84901848396
SN - 1075-2730
VL - 65
SP - 551
EP - 554
JO - Psychiatric Services
JF - Psychiatric Services
IS - 4
ER -