Language:
English
In:
Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 2005, Vol.40(11), pp.855-864
Description:
Byline: Matthias C. Angermeyer (1), Peter Breier (2), Sandra Dietrich (1), Denis Kenzine (1), Herbert Matschinger (1) Keywords: public attitudes; treatment; help seeking; transcultural psychiatry; schizophrenia; major depression Abstract: Aim In order to examine whether there is a relationship between the state of mental health care and the acceptance of psychiatry, public attitudes toward psychiatric treatment in three countries where the reform of mental health care has progressed to a different degree will be compared. Methods Population surveys on public beliefs about mental illness and attitudes toward psychiatric treatment were conducted in Bratislava, Slovak Republic, and Novosibirsk, Russia. The data were compared with those from a population survey that had recently been carried out in Germany. In all three surveys, the same sampling procedure and fully structured interview were applied. Results Although respondents from all three countries were equally inclined to seek help from mental health professionals, those from Bratislava and Novosibirsk tended to recommend more frequently to address other medical or nonmedical professionals or members of the lay support system. In all three countries, psychotherapy was the most favored treatment modality, followed by psychotropic medication. Although natural remedies were more frequently recommended in Bratislava and Novosibirsk, meditation/yoga was more popular among the German public. Across all three countries, the endorsement of a brain disease as cause was associated with a greater willingness to seek help from medical professionals (psychiatrist, GP). Respondents who adopted biological causes tended to recommend psychotropic medication more frequently. Conclusion In countries with less developed mental health care systems, there appears to be a tendency of the public toward more frequently relying on helping sources outside the mental health sector and on traditional "alternative" treatment methods. However, it is our prognosis that with the progress of reforms observed, differences may further decrease. Author Affiliation: (1) Dept. of Psychiatry, University of Leipzig, Johannisallee 20, 04317, Leipzig, Germany (2) Dept. of Psychiatry, University Hospital, Ruzinov, Slovak Republic Article History: Registration Date: 06/06/2005 Accepted Date: 25/05/2005 Online Date: 12/10/2005
Keywords:
public attitudes ; treatment ; help seeking ; transcultural psychiatry ; schizophrenia ; major depression
ISSN:
0933-7954
E-ISSN:
1433-9285
DOI:
10.1007/s00127-005-0958-x
URL:
View full text in Springer (Subscribers only)
Bookmarklink
