There is little research comparing patients’ views with those of their treating psychiatrists. In a survey of patients’ views conducted in 1993 for MIND (UK) by Rogers, Pilgrim and Lacey only 10% saw their problems in terms of mental illness. This highlights the tension between psychiatric codifications of mental abnormalities and explanations provided by patients themselves.

This pilot project explores the perceptions of mental health issues in patients and their psychiatrists in a regional Western Australian setting.

A mixed methods approach including semi-structured interviews of patients and their treating psychiatrists. Recruiting 5 consecutive people in the categories of involuntary in-patients, voluntary in-patients, patients on CTO, community patients and their psychiatrists.

Questions asked of the patients were:

– Why are you here?

– What problems do you have?

– What can be done?

– What control do you have?

– What control do other people have?

Psychiatrists were asked similar questions. Responses were recorded, transcribed and thematically analyzed to reveal key themes. Quotations are used to illustrate points participants wished to make.

We report on differences in understanding in both groups. This study reveals areas for further enquiry.

Considerable diversity is revealed. A key conclusion is that insight is a concept relevant both for treated and treating.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.