Impact of Societal Knowledge on Psychiatric Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study using a Standardized Questionnaire

Abstract

Psychiatry is part of medicine that studies mental, emotional, and behavioral disturbances. Unfortunately, stigma is often associated with psychiatry, as it is a mark of shame associated with feelings of disapproval toward a topic, which has generated negative views, leading to discrimination. As a result, the knowledge of Saudis toward psychiatric patients and services has become limited. Therefore, stigma is considered a key factor that prevents patients from pursuing psychiatric consultation. In this study, we aimed to establish Saudi society’s knowledge of mental illness and the mentally ill and what prevents them from seeking psychiatric evaluation. To achieve this, a cross-sectional study was conducted in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia between January and May 2019 that included 1,424 Saudi participants. Approximately 62% of participants acknowledged that mental illness is an illness like any other and 42% expressed that the mentally ill are far less of a danger than most people perceive. However, 56% disclosed that mental illness cannot be treated with psychotherapy and behavioral therapy. In conclusion, the study showed that society’s knowledge regarding psychiatry influences the mentally ill individuals in direct and indirect manners.