A survey of general practitioners' knowledge of symptoms and epidemiology of schizophrenia.
OBJECTIVE
To explore general practitioners' (GPs) knowledge of the symptoms and epidemiology of schizophrenia, and the GPs' characteristics associated with level of knowledge.


METHODS
Survey questionnaires exploring practice in patients with early psychosis were mailed to all GPs in South-Western France (N=3829). GPs were asked to fill out questions anonymously on the symptoms and epidemiology of schizophrenia.


RESULTS
The response rate was 23.6%. GPs had a fair theoretical knowledge of schizophrenia symptoms, but underestimated the prevalence and the risk of suicide. Recent attendance at a continuing medical education (CME) course on schizophrenia was the main predictor of level of knowledge on epidemiological figures, although its impact was relatively modest. Regarding risk factors, the implication of genetic factors was considered as null or modest by more than half of the GPs, while a large proportion of them stated that mother-baby interactional disturbances were frequently implicated in the aetiology of the disorder.


CONCLUSIONS
GPs' level of knowledge on the public health impact and risk factors for schizophrenia needs to be improved in order to promote the delivery of accurate and de-stigmatising information to primary care patients.
Verdoux
Hélène
H
Université Victor Segalen Bordeaux 2, Hôpital Charles-Perrens, 121 rue de la Béchade, 33076 Bordeaux cedex, France. helene.verdoux@u-bordeaux2.fr
Cougnard
Audrey
A
Grolleau
Sabrina
S
Besson
Rachel
R
Delcroix
Françoise
F
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005194:Family Practice / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires