Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/7713
Title: Are lay people good at recognising the symptoms of schizophrenia?
Authors: Erritty, P
Wydell, TN
Keywords: Science & Technology;Multidisciplinary Sciences;Science & Technology - Other Topics;Mental-health literacy;Help-seeking;1st-episode psychosis;Untreated psychosis;Prodromal symptoms;Pathways;Care;Duration;Disorders;Beliefs
Issue Date: 2013
Publisher: Public Library of Science
Citation: PLOS ONE, 8(1), e52913, 2013
Abstract: Aim: The aim of this study was to explore the general public’s perception of schizophrenia symptoms and the need to seekhelp for symptoms. The recognition (or ‘labelling’) of schizophrenia symptoms, help-seeking behaviours and public awareness of schizophrenia have been suggested as potentially important factors relating to untreated psychosis. Method: Participants were asked to rate to what extent they believe vignettes describing classic symptoms (positive and negative) of schizophrenia indicate mental illness. They were also asked if the individuals depicted in the vignettes required help or treatment and asked to suggest what kind of help or treatment. Results: Only three positive symptoms (i.e., Hallucinatory behaviour, Unusual thought content and Suspiciousness) of schizophrenia were reasonably well perceived (above 70%) as indicating mental illness more than the other positive or negative symptoms. Even when the participants recognised that the symptoms indicated mental illness, not everyone recommended professional help. Conclusion: There may be a need to improve public awareness of schizophrenia and psychosis symptoms, particularly regarding an awareness of the importance of early intervention for psychosis.
Description: ©2013 Erritty, Wydell. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
This article has been made available through the Brunel Open Access Publishing Fund.
URI: http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0052913
http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/7713
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0052913
ISSN: 1932-6203
Appears in Collections:Publications
Brunel OA Publishing Fund
Psychology
Dept of Life Sciences Research Papers

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