Impact of a campaign on the public's attitudes towards depression.
A public campaign was launched in 2000 as part of the four-level community-based intervention 'Nuremberg Alliance Against Depression' (NAD) in Nuremberg, Germany. Evaluation results will be presented. A baseline survey was done before the campaign in Nuremberg and Wuerzburg (control region), two surveys followed 10 and 22 months after the implementation. Multiple regression analyses were performed, with time, place and the interaction of time and location as independent and the corresponding items as dependent variables. For the general population, the campaign was successful in creating awareness for the NAD. For persons who reported experience with depression and persons aware of the NAD, analyses showed positive desirable effects: more awareness of depression and the NAD. In addition, among those aware, more positive attitudes towards medication treatment and antidepressants developed and also 'lack of self-discipline' declined as causal explanation as did the notion 'pull yourself together' as treatment option. The campaign induced relevant changes mainly in persons aware of the NAD and persons who reported to have had experience with depression. The fact that many of the changes in the general population declined in the second year of the campaign, when activities were done with lower intensity, illustrates the need for permanent depression awareness action.
Dietrich
Sandra
S
Klinik und Poliklinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Universitätsklinikum Leipzig, Semmelweisstrasse 10, D-04103 Leipzig, Germany. sandra.dietrich@medizin.uni-leipzig.de
Mergl
Roland
R
Freudenberg
Philine
P
Althaus
David
D
Hegerl
Ulrich
U
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001364:Awareness; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011287:Prejudice; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D011639:Public Opinion; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult
D000928:Antidepressive Agents