title: Attitudes towards alcohol dependence and affected individuals: persistence of negative stereotypes and illness beliefs between 1990 and 2011.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Alcohol dependence is among the most severely stigmatized mental disorders. We examine whether negative stereotypes and illness beliefs related to alcohol dependence have changed between 1990 and 2011.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used data from two population surveys with identical methodology that were conducted among German citizens aged ≥18 years, living in the 'old' German states. They were conducted in 1990 and 2011, respectively. In random subsamples (1990: n = 1,022, and 2011: n = 1,167), identical questions elicited agreement with statements regarding alcohol dependence, particularly with regard to the illness definition of alcohol dependence and blame.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, agreement with negative stereotypes did not change in the course of 2 decades. About 55% of the respondents agreed that alcohol dependence is an illness like any other, >40% stated that it was a weakness of character and 30% endorsed that those affected are themselves to blame for their problems.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is apparent that promoting an illness concept of alcohol dependence has not been an easy solution to the problem of stigma. We discuss how the normative functions of alcohol dependence stigma might have prevented a reduction of negative stereotypes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.
authors.forename: Georg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Schomerus
authors.forename: Herbert
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Matschinger
authors.forename: Matthias C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Angermeyer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000523:psychology*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012931:Social Environment; D057545:Social Stigma; D013240:Stereotyping; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult