A Comparison of African-Caribbean and White European Young Adults' Conceptions of Schizophrenia Symptoms and the Diagnostic Label

Abstract

African-Caribbean participants indicated less stigmatizing beliefs towards both the symptoms and diagnostic label of schizophrenia compared to the white European participants. White European participants were more likely to label vignettes as implying 'mental illness' and also more likely to recommend professional health treatment. These results are inconsistent with a hypothesis that on average African-Caribbean people stigmatize schizophrenia more than white European people. While white European participants' beliefs were more likely to follow a western model of mental illness, African-Caribbean participants were more likely to have alternative beliefs. The influence of racial discrimination, mental illness knowledge and societal structures are discussed.

Are Lay People Good at Recognising the Symptoms of Schizophrenia?

“…Pote and Orrell [28] and Stone and Finlay [29] subsequently used the vignettes in general population samples. The two non-symptom filler vignette (‘extroversion’ and ‘affectionate’) were taken from Stone and Finlay [29] and have been used in this study as distracters in order to help balance responses. A statement was provided at the start of the questionnaire, which read ‘The behaviours and experiences described in the vignette implies mental illness’.…”

“…There have been more in-depth studies of lay perceptions specific to schizophrenia, including Pote and Orrell [28], and Stone and Finlay [29], who investigated cultural differences in the perceptions of schizophrenia. For example, Pote and Orrell asked 190 participants aged above 18 from five ethnic groups (i.e., Afro-Caribbean, Bangladeshi, Indian, Sub-Saharan African, and White British) in London, UK, their perception of schizophrenia symptoms using the Perceptions of Mental Health Problems Questionnaire.…”

“…Similarly Stone and Finlay [29] asked 128 adult students aged over 16 of different ethnicities (i.e., Asian, Black/African-Caribbean, Chinese, Mixed and White/European) from further education colleges in London, UK to complete the Social Perceptions Questionnaire (SPQ). The SPQ comprises seven vignettes, four of which describe schizophrenia symptoms, and two of which describe “unusual non-symptom behaviours not classified as psychiatrically pathological” (p.248), and one which describes a diagnosis of schizophrenia.…”

“…In the current study, the research methodologies developed by Pote and Orrell [28], and Stone and Finlay [29] are also employed, particularly regarding the concept of investigating schizophrenia symptom recognition (or labelling) and help-seeking beliefs in lay populations. The study also focused on schizophrenia perceptions and subsequent help-seeking.…”

Health beliefs and carer burden in first episode psychosis

“…The gender of the carer also plays an important role in the amount of burden experienced, with a greater level of burden being experienced by women [28,29]. Cultural differences seem to play a vital role in both patients’ and carers’ illness perceptions [30,31]. We have previously reported that differences exist in illness appraisals in Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) groups experiencing psychosis [32], with BME groups appraising their illness less negatively than other ethnic groups.…”