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Objective: Knowing the level of stigmatization, knowledge and beliefs among the relatives of psychiatric patients towards mental disorders are important for treatment compliance and prognosis. This study aimed to determine stigmatization level, knowledge and beliefs towards mental disorders among the relatives of patients with mental disorders. The preliminary findings will be discussed.
Method: The sample of the study consisted of first-degree relatives of psychiatric patients, who accepted to participate in the study (n=56) Subjects were evaluated by sociodemographic form and Beliefs towards Mental Illness Scale. Preliminary Research data were evaluated statistically and computed with SPSS using One Way Variance Analysis (ANOVA) and Student’s t-test.
Results: In the preliminary findings, Beliefs Towards Mental Illness Scale mean score was found to be significantly related to education level of the subject (F: 3.534, p:0.032), and the subjects’ information about the diagnosis of the patient (t:2.084, p:0.03).
Conclusion: Our preliminary results suggest that both general education level and psychoeducation about the mental illness is a protective factor from stigmatization. Efforts aimed at reducing stigmatization of mentally ill people should focus on the family education.