Young people's recognition and understanding of schizophrenia: a cross-cultural study of young people from Britain and Nigeria.
OBJECTIVE
This cross-cultural study set out to compare the beliefs about the manifestations, causes and treatment of schizophrenia in a similar sample of 95 Nigerian and 76 British (western control) young people in their respective countries.


METHODS
Participants completed a three-part questionnaire that was based on Furnham & Chan with additional questions.


RESULTS
Results revealed differences between the two groups regarding the 'normality' of behaviours associated with schizophrenia. Other than hallucinations, all the behaviours described were considered to be manifestations of schizophrenia more so by the Nigerians than the British. The Nigerians were found not only to agree with supernatural explanations for causes of schizophrenia, as was predicted, but also favoured biological (genetics, neurochemical changes, and brain damage) and sociological explanations more so than the British. Both cultural groups favoured orthodox psychiatric practices and supportive environments as treatments for schizophrenia. However, unlike the British, the Nigerians also recognized religious and traditional practices as possible treatment options for schizophrenia.


CONCLUSIONS
As predicted, young Nigerians, compared with young British participants, tended to believe more in supernatural and sociological causes of schizophrenia.
Furnham
Adrian
A
Department of Psychology, University College London, UK. a.furnham@ucl.ac.uk
Igboaka
Anuli
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009549:Nigeria; D011593:Psychology, Social; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom