Georg Schomerus1, Stephanie Schindler2, Eva Baumann3, Matthias C Angermeyer4. 1. Department of Psychiatry, University of Leipzig Medical Center, Semmelweisstr. 10, 04103, Leipzig, Germany. Georg.schomerus@uni-leipzig.de. 2. Department of Psychiatry, University of Leipzig Medical Center, Semmelweisstr. 10, 04103, Leipzig, Germany. 3. Department of Journalism and Communication Research, Hannover University of Music, Drama, and Media, Hannover, Germany. 4. Center for Public Mental Health, Gösing am Wagram, Austria.
Abstract
PURPOSE: The public discourse about mental health and mental illness seems to have become more open over the last decade, giving rise to the hope that symptoms of mental illness have become more relatable. We examine whether continuum beliefs regarding schizophrenia and depression have increased on a population level over a period of 9 years, and whether notions of unfamiliarity and incomprehensibility have decreased. METHODS: In 2011 (n = 2455) and 2020 (n = 3042), two methodologically identical cross-sectional population surveys were conducted in Germany. After the presentation of an unlabeled case vignette depicting someone with schizophrenia or depression, we asked about continuum beliefs, perceived unfamiliarity and perceived incomprehensibility of the person described. RESULTS: Multinomial logit models holding sociodemographic variables fixed at their means for both surveys showed that agreement with continuum beliefs increased in depression from 43 to 46% [change 4%; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0; 8], but decreased in schizophrenia from 26 to 20% (change - 6%, 95% CI - 9; - 3). Unfamiliarity (change - 4%; 95% CI - 7; 0) and incomprehensibility (change - 7%, 95% CI - 10; - 4) decreased for depression, while remaining largely unchanged for schizophrenia. CONCLUSION: An already pronounced gap in the perception of both disorders with regard to continuity of symptom experiences and perceived otherness further widened over the last decade. While the public's increasing familiarity with symptoms of depression might be further aided by using continuum beliefs as part of anti-stigma messages and awareness campaigns, promulgating continuity models for schizophrenia seems more challenging.
PURPOSE: The public discourse about mental health and mental illness seems to have become more open over the last decade, giving rise to the hope that symptoms of mental illness have become more relatable. We examine whether continuum beliefs regarding schizophrenia and depression have increased on a population level over a period of 9 years, and whether notions of unfamiliarity and incomprehensibility have decreased. METHODS: In 2011 (n = 2455) and 2020 (n = 3042), two methodologically identical cross-sectional population surveys were conducted in Germany. After the presentation of an unlabeled case vignette depicting someone with schizophrenia or depression, we asked about continuum beliefs, perceived unfamiliarity and perceived incomprehensibility of the person described. RESULTS: Multinomial logit models holding sociodemographic variables fixed at their means for both surveys showed that agreement with continuum beliefs increased in depression from 43 to 46% [change 4%; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0; 8], but decreased in schizophrenia from 26 to 20% (change - 6%, 95% CI - 9; - 3). Unfamiliarity (change - 4%; 95% CI - 7; 0) and incomprehensibility (change - 7%, 95% CI - 10; - 4) decreased for depression, while remaining largely unchanged for schizophrenia. CONCLUSION: An already pronounced gap in the perception of both disorders with regard to continuity of symptom experiences and perceived otherness further widened over the last decade. While the public's increasing familiarity with symptoms of depression might be further aided by using continuum beliefs as part of anti-stigma messages and awareness campaigns, promulgating continuity models for schizophrenia seems more challenging.
Authors: Georg Schomerus; Eva Baumann; Christian Sander; Sven Speerforck; Matthias C Angermeyer Journal: World Psychiatry Date: 2021-06 Impact factor: 49.548
Authors: Lina-Jolien Peter; Stephanie Schindler; Christian Sander; Silke Schmidt; Holger Muehlan; Thomas McLaren; Samuel Tomczyk; Sven Speerforck; Georg Schomerus Journal: Psychol Med Date: 2021-04-08 Impact factor: 7.723
Authors: S Tomczyk; S Schlick; T Gansler; T McLaren; H Muehlan; L-J Peter; G Schomerus; S Schmidt Journal: Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol Date: 2022-08-05 Impact factor: 4.519