Community mental health ideology among psychiatrists and social workers
Levav, I.; Grinshpoon, A.; Zilber, N.
Israel Journal of Psychiatry and Related Sciences 23(4): 259-273
1986
ISSN/ISBN: 0333-7308 PMID: 3452322 Document Number: 270218
Baker and Schulberg's scale designed to measure community mental health ideology (CMHI) was administered to 73 psychiatrists and 51 social workers practicing in Jerusalem, in order to explore the concordance between the ideology which lies at the basis of the Reorganization Program of 1972 and that held by the mental health workers. The survey showed a rather weak 'fit' between the two. In addition, the study investigated the association of CMHI with sociodemographic and professional variables. The results showed that, among psychiatrists, the school of affiliation and the country of origin had a significant effect on CMHI. Unexpectedly, the degree of exposure to community-based services showed no association. Once psychiatric school of affiliation and sex were controlled, no marked differences were found between both groups of mental health workers. Recommendations for professional education are discussed.