Abstract
We aimed to clarify the relationship between lay diagnoses and perspectives on schizophrenia regarding causes, coping strategies,
treatments, prognosis with and without the help of specialists. Our study sample was 500 adults in Japan. Participants read
a vignette that depicted moderate to severe schizophrenic symptoms and yielded lay diagnoses. They also expressed their perspectives
on the cause of the status in the vignette and coping strategies. We examined the relationship between lay diagnoses and the
perspectives. Participants labeled the vignette as ‘stress’ held low expectations for the effectiveness of mental health professionals
and psychiatric treatment. To enhance mental health literacy, it is important to help people distinguish a mental illness
from mere stress. Lay diagnoses do not necessary have to be detailed, as long as people recognize a situation as an illness.
treatments, prognosis with and without the help of specialists. Our study sample was 500 adults in Japan. Participants read
a vignette that depicted moderate to severe schizophrenic symptoms and yielded lay diagnoses. They also expressed their perspectives
on the cause of the status in the vignette and coping strategies. We examined the relationship between lay diagnoses and the
perspectives. Participants labeled the vignette as ‘stress’ held low expectations for the effectiveness of mental health professionals
and psychiatric treatment. To enhance mental health literacy, it is important to help people distinguish a mental illness
from mere stress. Lay diagnoses do not necessary have to be detailed, as long as people recognize a situation as an illness.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Paper
- Pages 1-8
- DOI 10.1007/s10597-011-9454-1
- Authors
- Kanae Sawamura, Research Department, Institute for Health Economics and Policy, No. 11 Toyo-Kaiji Bldg, 1-5-11, Nishi-Sinbashi, Minato-Ku, Tokyo, 105-0003 Japan
- Hisateru Tachimori, Department of Mental Health Policy and Evaluation, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, 4-1-1 Ogawa-Higasi, Kodaira, Tokyo, 187-8553 Japan
- Tomonori Koyama, Department of Child and Adolescent Mental Health, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, 4-1-1 Ogawa-Higasi, Kodaira, Tokyo, 187-8553 Japan
- Asuka Koyama, Department of Psychiatry and Neuropathobiology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, 1-1-1 honjo, Kumamoto, 860-8556 Japan
- Yoichi Naganuma, Department of Forensic Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, 4-1-1 Ogawa-Higasi, Kodaira, Tokyo, 187-8553 Japan
- Yoshiharu Kim, Department of Adult Mental Health, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, 4-1-1 Ogawa-Higasi, Kodaira, Tokyo, 187-8553 Japan
- Tadashi Takeshima, Department of Mental Health Policy and Evaluation, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, 4-1-1 Ogawa-Higasi, Kodaira, Tokyo, 187-8553 Japan
- Journal Community Mental Health Journal
- Online ISSN 1573-2789
- Print ISSN 0010-3853