THE ATTITUDE OF THE PATIENTS TOWARD PSYCH IATRIC-HOSPITAL

The analysis of preconceived ideas about psychiatric hospital performe d in 12 healthy individuals and 21 mental patients permitted the autho rs to identify basic components of negative attitude to psychiatric ho spital, The 4 clusters were determined: fear of psychic disease; fear concerning the stay in psychiatric hospital; negative social attitude toward mental patients, loss of self respect; fear of possible social consequences. Essential differences of attitude exists in patients and in society. With growing experience of contacts with psychiatric serv ice the fear about social discrimination became more significant.