The public's view of the competence, dangerousness, and need for legal coercion of persons with mental health problems.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: The authors examined Americans' opinions about financial and treatment competence of people with mental health problems, potential for harm to self or others, and the use of legal means to force treatment. METHODS: The 1996 General Social Survey provided interview data with a nationally representative sample (n = 1444). Respondents were given a vignette based on diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia, major depression, alcohol dependence, or drug dependence, or a "control" case. RESULTS: The specific nature of the problem was the most important factor shaping public reaction. Respondents viewed those with "troubles," alcohol dependence, or depression as able to make treatment decisions. Most reported that persons with alcohol or drug problems or schizophrenia cannot manage money and are likely to be violent toward others. Respondents indicated a willingness to coerce individuals into treatment. Respondent and other case characteristics rarely affected opinions. CONCLUSIONS: Americans report greater concern with individuals who have drug or alcohol problems than with persons who have other mental health problems. Evaluations of dangerousness and coercion indicate a continuing need for public education.

The Influence of Causal Explanations and Diagnostic Labeling on Psychology Students’ Beliefs About Treatments, Prognosis, Dangerousness and Unpredictability in Schizophrenia

“…The main limitations of this study include: a) the inclusion of students from only one psychology school located in southern Italy, a region where healthcare resources are poorer and public prejudices towards mentally ill persons are higher than in other areas of the country (as cited in Magliano et al 2012); b) the focus only on beliefs regarding schizophrenia -one of the most stigmatised mental problem worldwide, together with alcohol and drug addictions (Henry et al 2010;Pescosolido et al 1999; -so its findings cannot be generalised to other mental disorders whose social acceptance by health professionals and the public is higher (Nordt et al 2006;Schomerus et al 2013); c) the fact that students' attendance to lessons is voluntary, therefore data cannot be generalised to not-attending students; d) the cross-sectional design that does not permit causal inferences regarding the effects of labelling and biogenetic explanations on stigmatizing attitudes. We plan to conduct further research on first-year students as a follow up to the current study; e) the failure to assess students' willingness to treat PWS; f) the poor reliability of the assessment questionnaire, whose psychometric properties we are now re-exploring, is a further significant limitation of this study.…”

The impact of antistigma education on the attitudes of general practitioners regarding schizophrenia*

“…The authors pretest analysis contradicts previous views that higher education causes less stigmatization. 2,24 The views of GPs show some similarities to the lay public's view on schizophrenia, particularly within a social context. One of the main difficulties for the utilization of primary health services for mental health care has been the degree of social stigmatization by the community.…”

Influence of Psychiatric Symptoms on Decisional Capacity in Treatment Refusal

“…And what if the patient is refusing treatment? Historically, it has been a common perception that people with mental illness have a reduced ability to provide informed consent [9]. Severe depression can manifest as impairment of information processing and reasoning that can significantly affect decision making [10].…”