This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Economou, M. Articles by Stefanis, C. PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Economou, M. Articles by Stefanis, C. Pubmed/NCBI databases Medline Plus Health Information Schizophrenia Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Knowledge About Schizophrenia and Attitudes Towards People with Schizophrenia in Greece

University Mental Health Research Institute, Athens University Medical School, Athens, Greece

Clive Richardson

Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences, Athens, Greece

Christina Gramandani

University Mental Health Research Institute, Athens University Medical School, Athens, Greece

Anastassios Stalikas

Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences, Athens, Greece

Costas Stefanis

University Mental Health Research Institute, Athens University Medical School, Athens, Greece

Background: This study was the first national survey ever conducted in Greece aiming to monitor the level of stigma Greeks hold against people with schizophrenia (PWS).

Aim: To investigate sources, degree of knowledge and attitudes towards PWS in Greece.

Method: A cross-sectional nationwide survey was conducted by face-to-face household interviews ( n = 1,199, aged 15 years and over).

Results: Television was the main source of information (65.9%). Negative portrayals of PWS were recalled by 60.5%. Only 27.7% attributed schizophrenia to a combination of psychosocial, genetic and environmental factors. Respondents believed that PWS are dangerous (74.6%), have split personalities (81.3%) and cannot work (83.2%). Regarding attitudes, a negative relationship between closeness and social distance was observed. Most respondents (92.1%) would not marry someone with schizophrenia, half (50.5%) would be disturbed by working with PWS and one third (32.9%) would feel afraid to start a conversation. Urban residence and higher education were generally associated with better knowledge and more positive attitudes towards PWS.

Conclusions: Knowledge about schizophrenia in Greece is poor. The Greek public has stigmatizing attitudes towards PWS. Educational interventions should especially target rural and semi-urban residents of a lower educational level. The role of television can be crucial.

Key Words: schizophrenia • knowledge • beliefs • attitudes • social distance • stigma • Greece

International Journal of Social Psychiatry, Vol. 55, No. 4, 361-371 (2009)
DOI: 10.1177/0020764008093957


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?