title: [The knowledge and attitudes of the public towards depression: an Istanbul population sample].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the public's knowledge and attitudes towards depression and associated sociodemographic factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  The survey was conducted in 2000 using face-to-face interviews in the homes of 707 adults in 24 different districts of Istanbul. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the influence of sociodemographic factors on attitudes towards depression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results indicate that 78.9% diagnosed the depression vignette as a mental disorder. 86.6% of the sample considered "social environmental factors" and 68.2% "weak personality" to be as the cause of depression. 43.4% of the population thought that people with depression are aggressive, and 22.8% believe that their freedom should be restricted. 51.9% percent of the subjects thought that the patient defined in the vignette should consult a physician. 94.5% percent of the respondents who thought of depression as an illness believe that depression is treatable and 54.9% of the respondents consider that the drugs used to treat depression have serious side effects. When the effect of sociodemographic factors on community attitudes was analyzed by logistic regression, age was found to have the most significant influence on community attitudes towards depression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest that the public identifies depression as an illness, has a tendency to perceive depression as a social problem, believes that depression could be treated by drugs, has incorrect knowledge about drugs and treatment, and is in doubt about the acceptance of depressive patients in society.
authors.affiliation: Celal Bayar U. Tip Fak., Psikiyatri AD., Manisa.
authors.forename: Erol
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ozmen
authors.forename: Kültegin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ogel
authors.forename: Cumhur
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Boratav
authors.forename: Afşin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sağduyu
authors.forename: Tamer
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Aker
authors.forename: Defne
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tamar
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011639:Public Opinion; D012938:Social Perception; D013240:Stereotyping; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology