title: The stigma of alcohol dependence compared with other mental disorders: a review of population studies.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Stigma is likely to aggravate the severe medical and social consequences of alcohol dependence. We aim to explore the characteristics of the alcohol dependence stigma by comparing it with the stigma of other conditions.
  
  
  METHODS
  On the basis of a systematic literature search, we identified 17 representative population studies published before July 2010 that examine aspects of the stigma of alcoholism and simultaneously of other mental, medical or social conditions. Seven surveys were located in Europe, five in North America, three in New Zealand and one each in Brazil and Ethiopia, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with people suffering from other, substance-unrelated mental disorders, alcohol-dependent persons are less frequently regarded as mentally ill, are held much more responsible for their condition, provoke more social rejection and more negative emotions, and they are at particular risk for structural discrimination. Only with regard to being a danger, they are perceived to be at a similarly negative level to that of people suffering from schizophrenia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Alcoholism is a particularly severely stigmatized mental disorder. Cultural differences are likely, but under-researched. We discuss possible reasons for the differences between the stigma of alcoholism and of other mental diseases and the consequences for targeted anti-stigma initiatives.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Ernst Moritz Arndt University of Greifswald, Rostocker Chaussee 70, 18437 Stralsund, Germany. georg.schomerus@uni-greifswald.de
authors.forename: Georg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Schomerus
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lucht
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Holzinger
authors.forename: Herbert
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Matschinger
authors.forename: Mauro G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Carta
authors.forename: Matthias C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Angermeyer
mesh_terms: D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D002605:Character; D003617:Dangerous Behavior; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D012929:Psychological Distance; D057545:Social Stigma; D013240:Stereotyping; D013315:Stress, Psychological