Effects of Labeling Patients “Psychiatric” or “Medical”: Favorability of Traits Ascribed by Hospital Staff

Abstract

A modified version of the Adjective Checklist was developed to test whether labeling patients “psychiatric” or “medical” would affect caretakers' attitudes. 97 psychiatric hospital employees (47 men and 50 women) completed valid questionnaires during their initial employment processing. Compared to medical patients, psychiatric patients were rated as less likable and were viewed as having more unfavorable and fewer favorable traits. Specifically, psychiatric patients were characterized as more irresponsible, less dependable, and less clear-thinking than medical patients. No significant attitudinal effects were found for the factors of perceivers' sex or role (direct-care versus support personnel). The over-all findings indicate that, despite a generation of professional advocacy of the medical model, those charged with the care of psychiatric patients continue to view them as less socially desirable than medical patients.