Stigmatization Of Schizophrenia Research Articles

Social networks use in the context of Schizophrenia: a review of the literature.

Schizophrenia is a persistent mental health condition that, while presenting challenges, underscores the dynamic nature of cognitive functions and encourages a unique perspective on how individuals engage with their surroundings. Social networks, as a means of communication of great importance at the present time, are for this type of people a way of interacting with their environment with a high level of security. The aim is to find out how schizophrenia is dealt with in different social networks and to differentiate between different types of articles dealing with the use of Facebook, X (former Twitter), YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and Weibo. A total of 45 articles to i) Social networks used, ii) Country of analyzed users, iii) age of the users analyzed, iv) focus of the analyzed manuscript (mental health literacy, stigmatization, detection of patterns associated with schizophrenia, and Harmful substance use). It was observed that 45.45% of the studies analyzed were conducted in the USA population, followed by UK and China (13.64%). The most analyzed social networks were those based on audiovisual communication (60%). Furthermore, the two main foci addressed in these articles were: stigmatization of schizophrenia with 16 articles (35.55%), following by the prediction of schizophrenia-detecting patterns with 15 articles (33.33%) and the use of social networks to stigmatize people with schizophrenia (38%) and only 14 articles (31.11%) were focused on mental health literacy. Likewise, it was found that there is great potential in the use of the analysis of the content generated, as possible predictors of the presence of this disease, which would allow rapid detection and intervention for psychosis and schizophrenia.

Renaming Schizophrenia and Stigma Reduction: A Cross-Sectional Study of Nursing Students in Taiwan.

Schizophrenia is one of the most stigmatized mental disorders. In 2014, schizophrenia was renamed in Mandarin in Taiwan, from the old name of “mind-splitting disease” to new name “disorder with dysfunction of thought and perception”, in an attempt to reduce the stigmatization of schizophrenia. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the effects of renaming schizophrenia on its stigma in nursing students. We examined the public stigma, self-stigma, and social distance associated with schizophrenia and compared them before and after the renaming. Basic demographic data and previous contact experience were collected, and participants completed a modified Attribution Questionnaire, the Perceived Psychiatric Stigma Scale, and modified Social Distance Scale. The final sample comprised 99 participants. Assessment revealed that the renaming significantly reduced public stigma, self-stigma, and social distance. Regarding the old and new names for schizophrenia, the fourth-year nursing students scored significantly higher on public stigma and self-stigma than did the first-year students. Personal exposure to individuals diagnosed with mental disorders reduced public stigma toward schizophrenia. The study findings suggest that the renaming of schizophrenia reduced its associated stigma. Providing accurate information, instruction by qualified tutors, as well as exposure to patients in acute exacerbation in hospital settings and recovered patients in the community are important. Further studies with longitudinal design, participants from diverse backgrounds, and larger sample sizes to investigate the effect of renaming on the stigma toward schizophrenia are warranted.

Effects of biogenetic beliefs for schizophrenia on potential caregivers in China: Exploring the role of affiliate stigma.

Schizophrenia affects more than eight million people in China. Stigmatization of schizophrenia may prevent family members and close others from providing social support to those with schizophrenia. This article aims to investigate the potential use of a biogenetic approach to reduce the stigma of schizophrenia using a cross-sectional (study 1, n=141) and an experimental design (study 2, n=100) in China. In the first study, mediation analysis reveals that perceived affiliate stigma, the negative prejudice, and discrimination towards family members of individuals with socially stigmatized identities due to their affiliation with the person mediates the path between biogenetic beliefs and desire for social distance. This pattern is replicated in study 2 in which two 10-min lectures were created and used to influence participants' beliefs in biogenetic causes of schizophrenia. Findings suggest that the biogenetic approach may increase Chinese participants' desired social distance towards their family members with schizophrenia through increasing their concerns about the negative consequences of being affiliated with the family member. Therefore, future research should investigate aspects of biogenetic anti-stigma campaigns that do not increase participants' perception of affiliate stigma in China.

Effects of symptom versus recovery video, similarity, and uncertainty orientation on the stigmatization of schizophrenia

191 participants either watched a video of a person with schizophrenia who discussed his recovery or the symptoms he experienced when acutely ill. Participants were asked to focus either on similarities or differences between themselves and the person depicted. Uncertainty orientation, the extent to which people prefer to resolve uncertainty (uncertainty-orientated) or avoid it in order to main certainty (certainty-orientated) was assessed for each participant. Results showed that for explicit attitudes, the recovery video and uncertainty orientation were significantly associated with more positive responses. The similarity manipulation interacted with video content and uncertainty orientation in influencing implicit attitudes. As expected, compared to those who are uncertainty-oriented, participants who are certainty-oriented were more likely to hold positive implicit attitudes after watching the recovery than symptoms video, particularly when attending to similarities.

Continuum beliefs about psychotic symptoms are a valid, unidimensional construct: Construction and validation of a revised continuum beliefs questionnaire

Growing evidence supports a continuum model of psychosis, with mild psychotic symptoms being frequently experienced by the general population. Moreover, believing in the continuum model correlates with less stigmatization of schizophrenia. This study explores whether continuum beliefs are a valid construct and develops a continuum beliefs scale. First, expert-generated items were reduced to a candidate scale (study 1, n=95). One-dimensionality was tested using confirmatory factor analysis (study 2, n=363). Convergent validity was tested with a previous continuum beliefs scale, essentialist beliefs, and stigmatization (study 2), while self-reported psychotic experiences (i.e. frequency and conviction) served to test discriminant validity (study 3, n=229). A nine item questionnaire that assesses continuum beliefs about schizophrenia symptoms showed acceptable to good psychometric values, high correlations with a previous continuum beliefs scale and small correlations with essentialist beliefs, stereotypes, and desired social distance. No correlations with psychotic experiences were found. Thus, continuum beliefs can be considered a valid construct. The construed CBQ-R asks about symptoms rather than the abstract category “schizophrenia”, which may increase understandability of the scale. Validation confirms previous studies and highlights the difference between continuum beliefs and personal psychotic experiences.

EPA-0679 - Stigmatization of schizophrenia in flemish newspapers

Background A considerable social stigma is attached to psychiatric disorders in general. However, research also shows differences between psychiatric disorders related to stigma. There are indications that the portrayal of schizophrenia in the media is particularly negative. Aim To compare the coverage of autism and schizophrenia in the Flemish newspapers regarding stigma. Method On the websites of the seven Flemish newspapers all articles published between 2008 and 2012 were screened for the keywords autism/autistic and schizophrenia/schizophrenic. The collected articles (N=4,181) were then graded to stigmatizing content. Results In the collected articles the coverage of autism was mostly positive and the coverage of schizophrenia was predominantly negative. The contrast is very substantial (p Conclusion The social stigma that rests on schizophrenia is poignantly reflected in the Flemish newspapers. The observation that a somewhat similar disorder such as autism is covered in a clearly more favorable way indicates that a more positive image of schizophrenia is not only desirable but also possible.

Ein Mythos von Jekyll und Hyde?

People widely believe that schizophrenia goes along with a split personality. Little is known, however, about the consequences of this belief. In this study, we tested whether the split-personality-belief is associated with stigmatization of schizophrenia. A sample of 416 persons was recruited from the general population. In an online-survey, the split-personality-belief, the stereotypes dangerousness and unpredictability/incompetence and individual discrimination (i. e. desired social distance) of persons diagnosed with schizophrenia were assessed by self-report. The split-personality-belief was associated with increased perceived dangerousness, unpredictability/incompetence and desired social distance. Both stereotypes mediated the relationship of split-personality-belief and desired social distance. The split-personality-belief is associated with and may even contribute to stigmatiziation of persons with schizophrenia. Efforts to reduce stigmatization are likely to benefit from battling this misconception.

Stigmatization of schizophrenia as perceived by nurses, medical doctors, medical students and patients

Stigmatization of schizophrenia is widespread and its genetic explanation may potentially increase the stigma. The present study investigated whether seeing schizophrenia as a genetic or environmental disorder might influence perceived beliefs towards people with schizophrenia and whether social stigmatizing attitudes were differently perceived the 202 subjects who were recruited. Perceived social stigmatizing attitudes were compared among participants who read two vignettes depicting a person with schizophrenia. Then, the Standardized Stigmatization Questionnaire (SSQ) was administered. A genetic explanation of schizophrenia was more frequently associated with stigmatizing attitudes. Also, there were higher levels of perceived stigmatization in medical students and medical doctors than in other groups based on their social experience or background. However, the sample size was small and this was a non-experimental design; also the SSQ would benefit from more cross-validation. About half of the participants perceived stigmatizing social attitudes. Finally, considering schizophrenia as a genetic disorder influenced participants perception of other people's beliefs about dangerousness and unpredictability and people's desire for social distance.

Factors associated with stigmatization of persons with mental illness.

Stigmatization of individuals with mental illnesses is widespread and serves as a major barrier to treatment. In a survey of 116 undergraduates, the authors examined the impact of diagnosis, attitudes about treatment, and psychiatric terminology on stigma associated with mental illness. Stigmatization of schizophrenia was significantly higher than stigmatization of depression. More positive attitudes toward treatment were associated with significantly less stigma. However, psychiatric terminology had no impact on attitudes toward mental illness. Significantly less stigmatization of mental illness was found among females than among males. Reducing the stigmatization of mental illness continues to be an important goal for mental health professionals.