Psychiatr. praxi. 2012;13(3):100-103

Stigmatization and panic disorder

prof.MUDr.Ján Praško, CSc.¹, PhDr.Tomáš Diveky¹, MUDr.Dana Kamarádová¹, MUDr.Daniela Jelenová¹, MUDr.Aleš Grambal¹, MUDr.Barbora Mainerová¹, doc.MUDr.Klára Látalová, Ph.D.¹, MUDr.Zuzana Sigmundová¹, MUDr.Petr Šilhán²

¹ Klinika psychiatrie FN Olomouc a LF UP v Olomouci

² Psychiatrické oddělení Fakultní nemocnice Ostrava

The stigma attached to mental illness and psychiatry results in the discrimination of people with mental disorders which is the major

obstacle to early and successful treatment. Many people which might have benefit from mental health services will not seek help or

fail to fully participate. Patients with panic disorder are rather forced to concentrate on somatic aspects of anxiety. A lot of prejudicial

beliefs, emotions, and behaviours cause the discrimination against people labelled as mentally ill. Unfortunately, public prejudice and

self-stigma may provide equally large barriers to achieving and enjoying life opportunities. Families worrying from stigma often keep

patient from early psychiatric intervention. Labelling mentally ill patients is quite often from health care workers, especially physicians,

who can exaggerate or underestimate the level of problems. Individuals who have more information about mental illness are less

prejudiced against the mentally ill. Destigmatization can be reached through educating the families and public about the realities and

myths of mental illness.

for treatment, countertransference.

Keywords: mental illness stereotype, heterostereotype, autostereotype, labelling process, panic disorder, agoraphobia, implication

Published: November 1, 2012  Show citation