IngentaConnect Attitudes towards mental disorders and psychiatric treatmentchang...

Authors: Ineland, Lisa¹; Jacobssson, Lars¹; Renberg, Ellinor Salander¹; Sjolander, Per²

Source: Nordic Journal of Psychiatry, Volume 62, Number 3, 2008 , pp. 192-197(6)

Abstract:

Over the years a lot of research of attitudes towards mental disorders, towards people with mental illness and towards psychiatric services and treatment have shown a persistent negative attitude. There are, however, few studies on changes over time. The aim of this study was to compare responses to a questionnaire on attitudes towards mental disorders and psychiatric patients and the perception of psychiatric treatment in a community in northern Sweden in 1976 and 2003. In 1976 a random sample of 391 persons 18-70 years of age were asked and in 2003 a new sample of 500 persons from the same community were approached with the same questions. There are considerable changes over time. In 2003, almost 90% agree to the statement that mental illness harms the reputation more than physical illness, compared with 50% in 1976. In 2003, 51% agreed to the statement “Most people with mental disorders commit violent acts more than others” compared with 24% in 1976. There is an apparent ambivalence towards psychiatric treatment. Whilst 88% would advice a person with mental problems to contact a psychiatrist, still 26% would not like themselves to be referred to a psychiatrist. We argue that improving treatment methods is as important as changing attitudes through accurate information.

Keywords: Attitudes; Mental disorders; Psychiatric treatments; Stigma

Document Type: Research article

DOI: 10.1080/08039480801962855

Affiliations: 1: Department of Clinical Sciences, Division of Psychiatry, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden 2: Sodra Lapplands Forskningsenhet and 912 32 Vilhelmina and Centre for Musculoskeletal Research, University of Gavle, Sweden

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Attitudes towards mental disorders and psychiatric treatment—changes over time in a Swedish population