A Descriptive Study to Assess the Knowledge about Misconceptions Regarding Mental Illness among the People Attending the Psychiatric OPD, SGRD, Hospital Amritsar

Abstract

Many mentally ill people are the victims of stigma and misconceptions. This leads to additional suffering and
humiliations. The knowledge of these misconceptions helps in management of mentally ill in our society.
The present study was undertaken to assess the knowledge about misconceptions regarding mental illness
among the people attending the psychiatric OPD, SGRD, Hospital, Amritsar. The objective of the study
was to assess the knowledge about misconception regarding mental illness. The data was collected from 30
subjects by convenient sampling technique attending the psychiatric OPD with the help of misconception
regarding mental illness interview schedule. Descriptive design was adopted for the study. The data was
analyzed and interpreted using descriptive statistics. The major finding of the study revealed that more than
half (60%) subjects had below average knowledge about misconception regarding mental illness, 33.3%
had average knowledge and only 6% had good knowledge. The findings of the study revealed that majority
below average knowledge about misconception regarding mental illness. It is recommended to conduct
similar study on large sample of subjects and further can be conducted in community setting