[Expert's and lay attitudes towards restrictions on mentally ill people].
OBJECTIVE
Comparing experts' and lay opinions towards restrictions on mentally ill people.


METHODS
We conducted a representative telephone survey with psychiatrists (N = 87) and lay persons (N = 90).


RESULTS
Compulsory admission towards people with mental illness is the most accepted restriction (experts 98.9 %/lay persons 72.2 %) followed by the withdrawal of the driver license (6.7 %/54.1 %), abortion suggested for mentally ill women in case of pregnancy (5.6 %/19.4 %), and the withdrawal of the right to vote (1.1 %/17.4 %).


CONCLUSIONS
If assessing and carrying out restrictive measures towards people with mental illness, experts have to consider the discrepancy between their and the lay persons' opinions. Furthermore, professionals have to take an active role in the public discussion about sanctions that are not laid down in law by the law, e. g. abortion in case of pregnancy of a mentally ill woman, and that are not medically required. Thus, they contribute to the fight against the stigma that mentally ill people are faced with.
Psychiatrische Universitätsklinik Zürich, Forschungsgruppe Sozialpsychiatrie, Switzerland.
Heidi
H
Zogg
Christoph
C
Lauber
Vladeta
V
Ajdacic-Gross
Wulf
W
Rössler
D000025:Abortion, Eugenic / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D003134:Commitment of Persons with Psychiatric Disorders / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D028642:Persons with Psychiatric Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D028701:Patient Rights / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D011057:Politics; D011247:Pregnancy; D011287:Prejudice; D011570:Psychiatry; D011639:Public Opinion; D013557:Switzerland