Percepción de inimputabilidad en esquizofrenia en adolescentes de la Ciudad de México

Abstract

IntroductionPublic perception of the not guilty by reason of insanity verdict is influenced the stigma of violence surrounding schizophrenia. Anti-stigma programmes in adolescents can improve attitudes towards patients. Material and methodsA total of 515 adolescents completed the Public Concept of Aggressiveness Questionnaire (CAQ), which is made up of a brief clinical vignette and specific questions that assess subjective perceptions about aggressiveness and dangerousness as well as the perception of the subject having a mental illness and behaving unpredictably. ResultsMore than 50.0% of the sample considered that the patient with schizophrenia was guilty. The unpredictable behaviour was the most important variable associated with not guilty by reason of insanity, followed by the perception of aggressiveness and mental illness ConclusionsFortunately, most adolescents associated not guilty by reason of insanity with the presence of a mental illness. Health promotion programmes in schools might be appropriate to reduce stigma.