title: An online intervention using information on the mental health-mental illness continuum to reduce stigma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A core component of stigma is being set apart as a distinct, dichotomously different kind of person. We examine whether information on a continuum from mental health to mental illness reduces stigma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Online survey experiment in a quota sample matching the German population for age, gender and region (n=1679). Participants randomly received information on either (1) a continuum, (2) a strict dichotomy of mental health and mental illness, or (3) no information. We elicited continuity beliefs and stigma toward a person with schizophrenia or depression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The continuum intervention decreased perceived difference by 0.19 standard deviations (SD, P<0.001) and increased social acceptance by 0.18 SD (P=0.003) compared to the no-text condition. These effects were partially mediated by continuity beliefs (proportion mediated, 25% and 26%), which increased by 0.19 SD (P<0.001). The dichotomy intervention, in turn, decreased continuity beliefs and increased notions of difference, but did not affect social acceptance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Attitudes towards a person with mental illness can be improved by providing information on a mental health-mental illness continuum.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Greifswald University, Greifswald, Germany; Helios Hanseklinikum Stralsund, Stralsund, Germany. Electronic address: georg.schomerus@uni-greifswald.de.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Schomerus
authors.affiliation: Center for Public Mental Health, Gösing, Austria; Department of Public Health, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Angermeyer
authors.affiliation: Institute for Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany; Institute for Community Medicine, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Baumeister
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Greifswald University, Greifswald, Germany; Helios Hanseklinikum Stralsund, Stralsund, Germany.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stolzenburg
authors.affiliation: Columbia University, New York, USA; University of California, Riverside, USA.
authors.forename: B G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Link
authors.affiliation: Columbia University, New York, USA.
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Phelan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination / Q000379:methods*; D058980:Information Literacy; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D012929:Psychological Distance; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis; D057545:Social Stigma; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Depression; Intervention study; Schizophrenia; Social stigma