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Illness perception in psychiatry
Re: Illness perception in psychiatry
What? No get well cards?!
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Prem Jeyapaul, SHO Rehabilitation psychiatry Forest Lodge, 20 hulse road, Southampton So15 2JX, tel 02380338142. fax:02380634362
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Premkumar.Jeyapaul{at}wht.nhs.uk Prem Jeyapaul
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Dear Editor Lankappa and Spence ((Psychiatric Bulletin 2005 29 449-451) highlighted putative reasons as to why psychiatric in-patients receive fewer greetings cards than other in-patient faculties. It was interesting to note that amongst intrinsic factors (to do with the patient themselves), included isolation of psychiatric patients through impaired social functioning as a function of their illness. Self-stigmatisation where psychiatric inpatients may be ashamed of their illnesses more than other inpatient groups does not sufficiently explain the differences in terms of fewer 'get well' cards. My own thought on other factors that may perpetuate the differences is that psychiatric patients inherently do not follow an illness model used in other conditions like pneumonia, cancer etc. It is arguably more difficult to measure and define illnesses in psychiatry than it is in medicine or surgery. We as psychiatrists are constantly evaluating and re -evaluating diagnoses on a number of variables including personality factors, collateral information, and sometimes treatability. This to the layperson can sometimes appear woolly and worse still inaccurate. This in turn makes the perception of psychiatric illnesses less 'tangible' than other medical conditions. It could be that relatives' views of their 'loved ones' as being ill, continues to be challenged in the light of differences in measurement and, consequently perception of illness. Until this changes possibly through more 'objective markers' of psychiatric illness the psychiatric in-patient will remain the poorer sibling in terms of 'get well' cards. Yours truly Dr P. Jeyapaul |
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Harold A. Maio, retired editor none
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khmaio{at}earthlink.net Harold A. Maio
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That patients with psychiatric illnesses receive fewer get well cards than patients with physical illnesses is an interesting observation. If the reason for this is negative or unsympathetic public perception and negative self-image, then everyone in the mental health professions ought accept responsibility and begin educating the public more positively. What specific education programs do mental health professions deliver to address negative public image? How are universities, like Sheffield responding? Harold A. Maio Former Consulting Editor Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal Boston University khmaio@earthlink.net 239-275-5798 day/night |
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V Woolf
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bertie_28{at}yahoo.co.uk V Woolf
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That's awful. How has it come to be that a condition that has been so highly stigmatised for so long, and a condition which the public perceive to be some form of murderous intent - That when one is afflicted and sent to hosptial - One recieves no get well cards? I find this so difficult to believe that when one is branded a lunatic for life, and might kill - On the say so of a tabloid newspaper - That one receives no get well cards. I get loads of cards actually when I'm unwell. Many are from family, friends and well-wishers. Others, I have written in advance to myself in the event of incapicitation. I feel it is high time that the Psychiatrists personally send a get well card to their in-patients if no-one else does. |
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