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This page is an AI-assisted Turkish summary of the study presented at the 26th World Congress of Psychiatry. The study belongs to the presenting authors; please refer to the original source when citing it.

EV1285

Non-psychiatric physicians’ attitudes toward mental illness in Tunisia: a 15-year comparative study

ATTITUDES TOWARD MENTAL ILLNESS AMONG NON-PSYCHIATRIC PHYSICIANS IN TUNISIA: A 15-YEAR COMPARATIVE STUDY

Non-psychiatric physicians’ attitudes toward mental illness in Tunisia improved markedly over 15 years, with a decline in stigmatizing beliefs and increased recognition of the urgency of psychiatric care.

The study aimed to assess changes between 2011 and 2026 in non-psychiatric physicians’ perceptions, stigma, and practices regarding psychiatry in the Greater Tunis region. Using a comparative cross-sectional design, an online self-report survey was administered to a total of 300 non-psychiatric physicians at two time points, over approximately one month in each phase; the two cohorts (n=150 each) were matched for sample size (p=1.000), professional seniority and status (p>0.05), and specialty distribution (p>0.05). Participants were predominantly women (male-to-female ratio: 0.38); most were resident physicians (73.3%, n=110), while interns accounted for 14.7% (n=22). The poster reported that 80.5% (n=107) were in medical specialties and 78.0% (n=117) had previously completed a psychiatry rotation. The comparison showed declines in stigmatizing beliefs (“madness”) from 68% to 41%, negative stereotypes about schizophrenia from 75% to 38%, inappropriate direct referrals from 58% to 22%, and the perception of psychiatry as a luxury from 42% to 12% (all p<0.001). Defining mental illness as a mental disorder rather than “madness” remained unchanged at 96% in both periods (not significant), while the association of mental illness with “madness” fell from 68% to 41% (p=0.002). Recognition of biological and psychosocial causes increased from 58% to 78% (p=0.003), and recognition of the urgency of psychiatric care rose from 18% to 62% (p<0.001); inappropriate practices, such as misattributing symptoms to physical causes and referring patients without assessment, declined from 58% to 22% (p<0.001). The discussion suggested that the presence of an active on-site psychiatry department at the hospital where the 2026 cohort was studied may have been the main driver of this positive change through frequent interdisciplinary collaboration and consultation-liaison psychiatry, with generational differences potentially contributing as well. In conclusion, although attitudes improved over 15 years, persistent misconceptions indicate a need for ongoing psychiatric education and clinical exposure.

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