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Young People's Recognition and Understanding of Schizophrenia: a Cross-Cultural Study of Young People From Britain and Nigeria

Department of Psychology, University College London, London, UK, a.furnham{at}ucl.ac.uk

Anuli Igboaka

Department of Psychology, University College London, London, UK

Aim: This cross-cultural study set out to compare the beliefs about the manifestations, causes and treatment of schizophrenia in a similar sample of 95 Nigerian and 76 British (western control) young people in their respective countries.

Method: Participants completed a three-part questionnaire that was based on Furnham & Chan (2004) with additional questions.

Results: Results revealed differences between the two groups regarding the `normality' of behaviours associated with schizophrenia. Other than hallucinations, all the behaviours described were considered to be manifestations of schizophrenia more so by the Nigerians than the British. The Nigerians were found not only to agree with supernatural explanations for causes of schizophrenia, as was predicted, but also favoured biological (genetics, neurochemical changes, and brain damage) and sociological explanations more so than the British. Both cultural groups favoured orthodox psychiatric practices and supportive environments as treatments for schizophrenia. However, unlike the British, the Nigerians also recognized religious and traditional practices as possible treatment options for schizophrenia. Conclusions: As predicted, young Nigerians, compared with young British participants, tended to believe more in supernatural and sociological causes of schizophrenia.

Key Words: beliefs • Britain • causes • manifestations • Nigeria • schizophrenia • treatments.

International Journal of Social Psychiatry, Vol. 53, No. 5, 430-446 (2007)
DOI: 10.1177/0020764007078348


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