title: Attitudes towards mental disorders and psychiatric treatment--changes over time in a Swedish population.
abstract: Over the years a lot of research of attitudes towards mental disorders, towards people with mental illness and towards psychiatric services and treatment have shown a persistent negative attitude. There are, however, few studies on changes over time. The aim of this study was to compare responses to a questionnaire on attitudes towards mental disorders and psychiatric patients and the perception of psychiatric treatment in a community in northern Sweden in 1976 and 2003. In 1976 a random sample of 391 persons 18-70 years of age were asked and in 2003 a new sample of 500 persons from the same community were approached with the same questions. There are considerable changes over time. In 2003, almost 90% agree to the statement that mental illness harms the reputation more than physical illness, compared with 50% in 1976. In 2003, 51% agreed to the statement "Most people with mental disorders commit violent acts more than others" compared with 24% in 1976. There is an apparent ambivalence towards psychiatric treatment. Whilst 88% would advice a person with mental problems to contact a psychiatrist, still 26% would not like themselves to be referred to a psychiatrist. We argue that improving treatment methods is as important as changing attitudes through accurate information.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Division of Psychiatry, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ineland
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jacobssson
authors.forename: Ellinor Salander
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Renberg
authors.forename: Per
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sjölander
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003156:Community Mental Health Services; D003415:Crime / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006266:Health Education / Q000639:trends*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008402:Mass Media; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D011287:Prejudice; D011613:Psychotherapy; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014754:Violence / Q000523:psychology*
chemical_list: D011619:Psychotropic Drugs