Knowledge and opinions of families about mental illness and mental patients

ABSTRACT

Sixty families of first admitted psychiatric patients were interviewed to explore their knowledge about mental illness and their opinions about mental patients in general and their hospitalized ill member in particular. The results showed a tendency of family members to reflect the general community view of mental patients, describing them as unreasonable, odd and bizarre. They also tend to deny psychotic illness among their patients. Their knowledge about mental illness is very limited and greatly influenced by the stigma attached to mental illness