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"A disease like any other"? A decade of change in public reactions to schizophrenia, depression, and alcohol dependence.
- Source :
-
The American journal of psychiatry [Am J Psychiatry] 2010 Nov; Vol. 167 (11), pp. 1321-30. Date of Electronic Publication: 2010 Sep 15. - Publication Year :
- 2010
-
Abstract
- Objective: Clinicians, advocates, and policy makers have presented mental illnesses as medical diseases in efforts to overcome low service use, poor adherence rates, and stigma. The authors examined the impact of this approach with a 10-year comparison of public endorsement of treatment and prejudice.<br />Method: The authors analyzed responses to vignettes in the mental health modules of the 1996 and 2006 General Social Survey describing individuals meeting DSM-IV criteria for schizophrenia, major depression, and alcohol dependence to explore whether more of the public 1) embraces neurobiological understandings of mental illness; 2) endorses treatment from providers, including psychiatrists; and 3) reports community acceptance or rejection of people with these disorders. Multivariate analyses examined whether acceptance of neurobiological causes increased treatment support and lessened stigma.<br />Results: In 2006, 67% of the public attributed major depression to neurobiological causes, compared with 54% in 1996. High proportions of respondents endorsed treatment, with general increases in the proportion endorsing treatment from doctors and specific increases in the proportions endorsing psychiatrists for treatment of alcohol dependence (from 61% in 1996 to 79% in 2006) and major depression (from 75% in 1996 to 85% in 2006). Social distance and perceived danger associated with people with these disorders did not decrease significantly. Holding a neurobiological conception of these disorders increased the likelihood of support for treatment but was generally unrelated to stigma. Where associated, the effect was to increase, not decrease, community rejection.<br />Conclusions: More of the public embraces a neurobiological understanding of mental illness. This view translates into support for services but not into a decrease in stigma. Reconfiguring stigma reduction strategies may require providers and advocates to shift to an emphasis on competence and inclusion.
- Subjects :
- Adult
Alcoholism diagnosis
Alcoholism physiopathology
Alcoholism rehabilitation
Causality
Character
Dangerous Behavior
Data Collection
Depressive Disorder, Major diagnosis
Depressive Disorder, Major physiopathology
Depressive Disorder, Major rehabilitation
Female
Health Policy
Hospitalization
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Morals
Neurobiology
Patient Care Team
Psychiatry
Psychological Distance
Schizophrenia physiopathology
Schizophrenia rehabilitation
Social Behavior Disorders diagnosis
Social Behavior Disorders physiopathology
Social Behavior Disorders psychology
Social Behavior Disorders rehabilitation
Social Support
United States
Alcoholism psychology
Depressive Disorder, Major psychology
Prejudice
Public Opinion
Schizophrenia diagnosis
Schizophrenic Psychology
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1535-7228
- Volume :
- 167
- Issue :
- 11
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- The American journal of psychiatry
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 20843872
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.2010.09121743