Schizophrenia literacy: the effect of direct experience with the illness.

The present study examined the idea that those who have had direct experience with schizophrenia demonstrate better mental health literacy with regards to the condition compared to those with no experience. A convenience sample of 207 lay respondents (aged 17-73 years) completed a questionnaire that examined knowledge of schizophrenia symptoms, the nature of people with schizophrenia, causes, awareness of related disorders and spectrum/schizotypy theories, stereotypical attitudes about schizophrenic patients, attitudes towards social contact with people with schizophrenia, and whether the respondent or anyone they knew had ever been diagnosed with schizophrenia. There were few differences as a function of contact, but those with direct experience were indeed found to be more comfortable about various interactions with a person with schizophrenia. This study provides modest evidence for the contact hypothesis. Suggestions for increasing mental health literacy with respect to schizophrenia are considered.