Abstract
The objective of this study was to carry out a national survey to assess the Australian public's beliefs about causes and risk factors for mental disorders. A national household survey of 2,031 Australian adults was carried out. Half the respondents were presented with a vignette describing a person with major depression and the other half with a vignette describing schizophrenia. Respondents were asked to rate whether various factors are likely causes of problems such as that described in the vignette and to rate whether various groups are at higher or lower risk. For depression, social environmental factors were often seen as likely causes, which is consistent with the epidemiological evidence. However, genetic factors were considered as a likely cause by only half the population. For schizophrenia, social environmental factors were also often seen as causes, which is in contrast to the weak epidemiological evidence for such a role. Genetic factors attracted more support as a cause of schizophrenia than of depression. These finding point to areas where the mental health literacy of the population could be improved, particularly the over-emphasis on social environmental factors in schizophrenia. Of some concern was the belief of half the population that weakness of character is a likely cause of both depression and schizophrenia. This belief implies a negative evaluation of the sufferer as a person.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
American Psychiatric Association (1994) Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, 4th edn, DSM-IV. American Psychiatric Association, Washington, DC
Angermeyer MC, Matschinger H (1994) Lay beliefs about schizophrenic disorder: the results of a population survey in Germany. Acta Psychiatr Scand 89 [Suppl 382]: 39–45
Dohrenwend BP, Levav I, Shrout PE, Schwartz S, Naveh G, Link BG, Skodol AE, Stueve A (1992) Socioeconomic status and psychiatric disorders: the causation-selection issue. Science 255: 946–952
Finlay-Jones R (1988) Life events and psychiatric illness. In: Henderson AS, Burrows GD (eds) Handbook of social psychiatry. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp 27–40
Henderson AS (1994) Does ageing protect against depression? Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 29: 108–109
Jablensky A (1988) Schizophrenia and the environment. In: Henderson AS, Burrows GD (eds) Handbook of social psychiatry. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp 103–116
Jorm AF (1987) Sex and age differences in depression: a quantitative synthesis of published research. Aust N Z J Psychiatry 21: 46–53
Jorm AF (in press) Mental health literacy: the public's ability to recognize mental disorders and beliefs about treatment. Med J Aust
Kendler KS, Neale MC, Kessler RC, Health AC, Eaves LJ (1993) A longitudinal twin study of personality and major depression in women. Arch Gen Psychiatry 50: 853–862
Kessler RC, McGonagle KA, Zhao S, Nelson CB, Hughes M, Eshleman S, Wittchen H-U, Kendler KS (1994) Lifetime and 12-month prevalence of DSM-III-R psychiatric disorders in the United States: results from the National Comorbidity. Survey Arch Gen Psychiatry 51: 8–19
McKeon P, Carrick S (1991) Public attitudes to depression: a national survey. Irish J Psychol Med 8: 116–121
Parker G (1988) Parental style and parental loss. In: Henderson AS, Burrows GD (eds) Handbook of social psychiatry. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp 15–25
Robins LN, Helzer JE, Weissman MM, Orvaschel H, Gruenberg E, Burke JD, Regier DA (1984) Lifetime prevalence of specific psychiatric disorders in three sites. Arch Gen Psychiatry 41: 949–958
Rodgers B (1995) Separation, divorce and mental health. In: Jorm AF (ed) Men and mental health. National Health and Medical Research Council, Canberra, pp 105–115
Sims A (1993) The scar that is more than skin deep: the stigma of depression. Brit J Gen Pract 43: 30–31
Winefield AH (1995) Unemployment and mental health. In: Jorm AF (ed) Men and mental health. National Health and Medical Research Council, Canberra, pp 70–77
World Health Organization (1993) The ICD-10 classification of mental and behavioural disorders: diagnostic criteria for research. World Health Organization, Geneva
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Jorm, A.F., Korten, A.E., Jacomb, P.A. et al. Public beliefs about causes and risk factors for depression and schizophrenia. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 32, 143–148 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00794613
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00794613