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A survey on the prejudice and the stereotypes of mental illness in two communities with or without Psychiatric Residential Facilities

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 October 2011

Franco Veltro ,
Antonella Raimondo ,
Clementina Porzio ,
Teresa Nugnes  and
Vittorina Ciampone
Franco Veltro*
Affiliation:
Dipartimento di Salute Mentale, ASL 3 “Centro Molise” di Campobasso, Campobasso
Antonella Raimondo
Affiliation:
Dipartimento di Salute Mentale, ASL 3 “Centro Molise” di Campobasso, Campobasso
Clementina Porzio
Affiliation:
Dipartimento di Salute Mentale, ASL 3 “Centro Molise” di Campobasso, Campobasso
Teresa Nugnes
Affiliation:
Dipartimento di Salute Mentale, ASL 3 “Centro Molise” di Campobasso, Campobasso
Vittorina Ciampone
Affiliation:
Dipartimento di Salute Mentale, ASL 3 “Centro Molise” di Campobasso, Campobasso
*
Address for correspondence: Dr. F. Veitro, Dipartimento di Salute Mentale, Ospedale Cardarelli, C. da Tappino, 86100, Campobasso(Italy). Fax +39-874-409350 E-mail spdc.cb@tin.it, franco.veltro@tin.it
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Summary

Aims – Description of prejudice and stereotypes of mental illness in two samples with or without psychiatric Residential Facilities in their communities. It has been evaluated if the ongoing naturalistic relationship with the mentally ill was sufficient to modify the stigma of mental illness. Methods – The study has been carried out in 7 small towns with Residential Facilities and in 7 small towns without Residential Facilities on a sample of 560 people. Each respondent was asked to fill the Questionnaire on the Opinions about Mental Illness - General Population's version (QO-GP). Results – Data on 557 respondents (99.5%) were collected. The most frequent opinion in the general sample was to reject the possibility to admit patients to Psychiatric Hospital. The significance (p <.01) between the two samples was found for only 5 items that concern the “treatment-outcome”, while no difference was found about the stereotypes of mental illness. Conclusions – The results outline that the ongoing naturalistic relationship do not modify the stereotypes of mental illness, but only some aspects of prejudice (care and civil rights). As a consequence we need to plan structured, effective and more specific educational campaigns on mental illnesses.

Declaration of Interest: in the last 2 years, none of the five authors has had any interest or he/she has received any form of support, including that from drug companies and “honoraria” for lectures and consultancies, potentially in conflict with this scientific work.

Keywords

prejudicestereotypesmental illnesscommunity survey
Type
Original Papers
Information
Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences , Volume 14 , Issue 3 , September 2005 , pp. 170 - 176
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2005

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