Lecturers' and students' perceptions of current teaching methods about schizophrenia

Abstract

Schizophrenia affects about 24 million people worldwide. Many patients find the symptoms of schizophrenia highly distressing because they often find it difficult to communicate the exact nature of their psychosis in a way that others can understand. Similarly, although one can learn about patients through interviews, observation and assisting with treatment programs, psychiatry students and even therapists may not fully understand the experience of psychosis because they lack first hand experience of the illness. This raises concerns not only about the teaching methods currently being utilized to teach mental illnesses, but also about the ability for educators and future clinicians to empathize with patients.