Opaque image: The lived experiences of patients with psychiatric disorders of media stigma

Individuals diagnosed with psychiatric disorders are recognized as a minority group that is socially discriminated against, stigmatized, and rejected. Multiple sources of stigma for patients with psychiatric disorders, including newspapers, films, TV, websites, and books, promote negative stereotypes. Since the influence of the media on people''''''''s views and thinking toward these patients is very important, the purpose of this study is to understand the lived experiences of the patients with psychiatric disorders of media stigma. 

This hermeneutic phenomenological study is part of a Ph.D. dissertation in nursing. The main study was performed on 12 psychiatric patients in Ibn-e-Sina Hospital in Mashhad-Iran, in 2017. They were selected based on a purposive sampling method. Unstructured in-depth interviews for data collection were used. Data analyses were done with the interpretative phenomenological analysis method. 

Media misrepresentation is one of the main themes of the phenomenon understudy in the original project. It consists of two subs themes; media exaggeration and disturbing public opinion. Several shared meanings support each of these. 

The results of this study are suitable for combating stigma in patients with psychiatric disorders in Iran. Also, the findings of this study can shape the interventions and policies to prevent the spread of stigma through media about people with psychiatric disorders.