Mental health disclosure amongst clinical psychologists in training: Perfectionism and pragmatism
Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy
Published online on March 26, 2018
Abstract
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Objectives
This study investigated the incidence of lived experience of mental health problems amongst UK‐based trainee clinical psychologists and factors associated with anticipated disclosure for trainees both with and without lived experience.
Methods
A web‐based survey comprising the Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale, an adapted version of the Perceived Devaluation and Discrimination Scale, and questions about lived experience and anticipated likelihood of disclosure.
Results
The survey was completed by 348 trainees across 19 UK training institutions. Sixty‐seven percent reported lived experience of a mental health problem. For these trainees, there was no difference in anticipated likelihood of disclosing to different recipient types after controlling for maladaptive perfectionism. However, across all participants, anticipated disclosure was associated with maladaptive perfectionism, temporal proximity, anticipated stigma (past), and recipient type. Anticipated stigma (present) was not associated with anticipated disclosure.
Conclusions
Results support an approach to communicating about mental health disclosure that incorporates responsibility, interdependency, and transparency. Suggestions for further research are discussed.
- Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy, Volume 25, Issue 5, Page 721-729, September/October
2018.