Biological Psychiatric Problems Garner Less Empathy

December 8, 2014

(Yahoo! News) – Given more information about the biology of a mental disorder, doctors and therapists react with less empathy for the patient, a new study finds. The study didn’t involve real patients – only short descriptions of fictional cases. Still, it found that psychiatrists, psychologists and social workers expressed less empathy for patients with conditions explained as biological rather than psychological. The findings challenge the notion that biological explanations of mental illness boost compassion for millions of Americans who suffer from psychological conditions.