A Pilot Study of the effect of exposure to Stand-up Comedy Performed by People With Mental Illness on Medical Students' Stigmatization of Affected Individuals

Abstract

Objective: Previous work shows that many medical professionals hold stigmatizing attitudes towards people with mental illnesses. Medical professionals’ stigmatizing attitudes have been associated with decreased use of needed healthcare services among individuals with mental illness; and this can exacerbate the effects and symptoms of the illness on the individual. Medical professionals’ attitudes are perhaps best modified early in their training. Thus, we aimed to determine whether a novel intervention could decrease medical students’ stigmatizing attitudes towards people with mental illness.

Methods: Students attended a presentation about a program which trains individuals with mental illness to perform stand-up comedy, then interacted with the comedians in small groups. Immediately before (T1) and after (T2) the intervention, participants self-rated their comfort with asking patients about mental illness, and completed scales measuring two aspects of stigma: stereotype endorsement, and broad negative attitudes towards people with mental illness.

Results: T1 and T2 questionnaires were returned by 49 students. At T2, 52% reported feeling more comfortable asking patients about a history of mental illness. There was no change in broad attitudes towards mental illness, but endorsement of negative stereotypes about mental illness decreased significantly from T1 to T2.

Conclusions: These pilot data warrant further investigation of the effects of this novel intervention.