Psychiatrists, the Public, and Confidentiality

This paper represents a comparative study of the attitudes of psychiatrists, people under the regular care of psychiatrists, and those who have never had any experience with psychotherapy toward confidentiality in the doctor-patient relationship. The role played by knowledge of and attitudes toward confidentiality in the seeking of health care is also assessed. The samples consisted of 192 psychiatrists, 76 patients, and 76 nonpatients of psychiatrists. The findings and their implications are discussed.