''Not dangerous, but still frightening'' - A school programme against stigmatization of schizophrenia

Author(s): Sulzenbacher, H., Kemmler, G., Schmid, R., Rossler, W., Gunther, V.

Journal/Book: Psychiat Prax. 2000; 27: Rudigerstr 14, D-70469 Stuttgart, Germany. Georg Thieme Verlag Kg. 340-346.

Abstract: Objective: Evaluation of a brief school programme providing information about schizophrenia to high school students. It was investigated whether the programme changed the students' attitude towards this target group and whether information given by a patient affects the results. Methods: 114 high school students (6 school classes) took part in the programme: 57 students were informed by a psychiatrist and an afflicted person (group A), the other 57 were informed by a psychiatrist and a social worker (group B). The students' attitude towards schizophrenics was assessed using a vignette of a fictitious class-mate suffering from schizophrenia (according to DSM criteria) and by questionnaires assessing the students' emotional and cognitive reactions and their social distance towards the person described by the vignette. Results: Only in group A (psychiatrist and afflicted) there was a significant improvement regarding the emotional reaction (reduction of fear, increase in positive emotions) and a significant decrease in social distance. Moreover, students no longer associated psychiatric illness with being ''crazy''. In group B (psychiatrist and social worker) these changes could not be observed. There was even a significant increase in describing patients with schizophrenia as dangerous. Conclusion: As high school students themselves consider their level of knowledge about psychiatric illness as low, information about this topic should be given more attention than is currently done (also from a preventive point of view). For such information to be effective and to affect students' attitudes positively, it appears necessary that students have the opportunity to get in contact with a person affected by psychiatric illness. For changing attitudes it is also essential how information is presented.

Note: Article Meise U, Innsbruck Univ, Psychiat Klin, Anichstr 35, A-6020 Innsbruck, AUSTRIA

Keyword(s): 2 GERMAN POLITICIANS; MENTALLY-ILL; PUBLIC-ATTITUDES; ASSASSINATION ATTEMPTS; STIGMA; HEALTH; INFORMATION; IMPACT

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