Would I take antipsychotics, if I had psychotic symptoms? Examining determinants of the decision to take antipsychotics.
Poor adherence to treatment in schizophrenia is mainly associated to patients-related factors. However, social negative representations of schizophrenia and its treatment may also contribute to patients' decision to take or not to take antipsychotics. A web-based study on 1,807 participants was conducted during which participants imagined that they had a particular chronic illness based on clinical vignettes (mental illnesses: schizophrenia, depression; somatic illnesses: multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis). Participants rated their subjective distress and perceived social stigma associated with each illness. They also rated the perceived treatability of the illness, their belief in the effectiveness of treatment, and their treatment preference regarding medication. Results show that schizophrenia was considered more distressful, less treatable and associated with higher social stigma than somatic illnesses. Medication was less preferred for treating schizophrenia compared to somatic illnesses. Perceived treatability of illness and belief in the effectiveness of pharmacological treatment were the factors driving preference for medication in schizophrenia and depression, respectively; these factors had weaker influence on preference for medication in somatic illnesses. Our study points out more severe negative representations of mental illnesses in general, and their treatment, particularly schizophrenia. These attitudes are not confined to patients, and may influence patients' decisions to take psychotropic drugs.
University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Martinistr. 52, D-20246 Hamburg, Germany. Electronic address: fabrice.berna@chru-strasbourg.fr.
Fabrice
F
Berna
Occupational and Consumer Psychology, Freiburg University, Freiburg, Germany.
Anja S
AS
Göritz
CMP B, CHU, EA 7280 Faculté de Médecine, Université d'Auvergne, BP 69 63003 Clermont-Ferrand Cedex 1, France; Fondation FondaMental, Créteil, France.
Pierre-Michel
PM
Llorca
Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg, Université de Strasbourg, INSERM U1114, Fédération de Médecine Translationnelle de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France; Fondation FondaMental, Créteil, France.
Pierre
P
Vidailhet
INSERM U955, équipe de psychiatrie translationnelle, Créteil, France; Fondation FondaMental, Créteil, France; Université Paris-Est Créteil, DHU Pe-PSY, Pôle de Psychiatrie des Hôpitaux Universitaires Henri Mondor, Créteil, France.
Guillaume
G
Fond
University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Martinistr. 52, D-20246 Hamburg, Germany.
Steffen
S
Moritz
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000523:psychology; D003657:Decision Making; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000523:psychology; D011639:Public Opinion; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D057545:Social Stigma; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents
Negative attitudes; Severe mental illness; Stigma; Treatment preference