Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

What’s in a name? Is accurate recognition and labelling of mental disorders by young people associated with better help-seeking and treatment preferences?

  • ORIGINAL PAPER
  • Published:
Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

The possible benefits or harms of using psychiatric labels in the community have been a focus of debate for many decades. The aim of this study was to examine associations between the accuracy of labelling of depression or psychosis by young people aged 12–25 and their help-seeking, treatment and self-help preferences, whilst controlling for a range of potential confounding factors.

Methods

A randomly selected population sample of 1,207 young people aged 12–25 years from several regions of Victoria, Australia, was interviewed via a telephone survey. The structured interviews used vignettes of a young person with either depression or psychosis followed by a series of questions related to recognition of disorder and recommended forms of help and treatment. Multiple logistic regression analyses were used to measure the association between a range of help-seeking, treatment and self-help preferences and the predictor variables of accuracy of recognition, socio-demographic background and exposure to mental health problems.

Results

Correct labelling of the disorder was the predictor variable most frequently associated with choice of appropriate help and treatment for both the depression and psychosis vignettes. In regard to self-help preferences, correct labelling of the depression vignette was only associated with being less likely to recommend smoking marijuana to relax. Correct labelling of the psychosis vignette, or labelling it as depression, was associated with being less likely to recommend dealing with the problem alone.

Conclusion

These findings support the view that improving the use of psychiatric labels by young people is beneficial, because it facilitates appropriate help-seeking and treatment choice. The label may be the cue to activating a schema about appropriate action to take.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Ajzen I (1991) The theory of planned behavior. Organ Behav Hum Decis Process 50:179–211

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. American Psychiatric Association (1994) Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders: fourth edition (DSM-IV). American Psychiatric Association, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  3. Andersen R, Newman JF (1973) Societal and individual determinants of medical care utilization in the United States. Milbank Mem Fund Q Health Soc 51:95–124

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Anderson RC (1984) Some reflections on the acquisition of knowledge. Educ Res 13:5–10

    Google Scholar 

  5. Angermeyer MC, Matschinger H (2005) Labeling–stereotype–discrimination. An investigation of the stigma process. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 40:391–395

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Australian Bureau of Statistics (1997) Australian Standard Classification of Occupations, 2nd edn. Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra

    Google Scholar 

  7. Chew LD, Bradley KA, Boyko EJ (2004) Brief questions to identify patients with inadequate health literacy. Fam Med 36:588–594

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Fischer W, Goerg D, Zbinden E, Guimon J (1999) Determining factors and the effects of attitudes towards psychotropic medication. In: Guimon J, Fischer W, Sartorius N (eds). The image of madness: the public facing mental illness and psychiatric treatment. Karger, Basel, pp 162–186

    Google Scholar 

  9. Fishbein M, Ajzen I (1975) Belief, attitude, intention, and behavior: an introduction to theory and research. Addison-Wesley, Reading, MA

    Google Scholar 

  10. Gasquet I, Chavance M, Ledoux S, Choquet M (1997) Psychosocial factors associated with help-seeking behavior among depressive adolescents. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 6:151–159

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Goldberg D, Huxley P (1980) Mental illness in the community: the pathway to psychiatric care. Tavistock Publications, London

    Google Scholar 

  12. Hegerl U, Althaus D, Stefanek J (2003) Public attitudes towards treatment of depression: effects of an information campaign. Pharmacopsychiatry 36:288–291

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Johannessen JO, McGlashan TH, Larsen TK, Horneland M, Joa I, Mardal S, Kvebaek R, Friis S, Melle I, Opjordsmoen S, Simonsen E, Ulrik H, Vaglum P (2001) Early detection strategies for untreated first-episode psychosis. Schizophr Res 51:39–46

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Jorm AF, Korten AE, Rodgers B, Pollitt P, Jacomb PA, Christensen H, Jiao Z (1997) Belief systems of the general public concerning the appropriate treatments for mental disorders. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 32:468–473

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Jorm AF, Medway J, Christensen H, Korten AE, Jacomb PA, Rodgers B (2000) Public beliefs about the helpfulness of interventions for depression: effects on actions taken when experiencing anxiety and depression symptoms. Aust N Z J Psychiatry 34:619–626

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Jorm AF, Blewitt KA, Griffiths KM, Kitchener BA, Parslow RA (2005) Mental health first aid responses of the public: results from an Australian national survey. BMC Psychiatry 5:9

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Jorm AF, Kelly CM, Wright A, Parslow RA, Harris MG, McGorry PD (2006) Belief in dealing with depression alone: results from community surveys of adolescents and adults. J Affect Disord 96:59–65

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Jureidini JN, Doecke CJ, Mansfield PR, Haby MM, Menkes DB, Tonkin AL (2004) Efficacy and safety of antidepressants for children and adolescents. BMJ 328:879–883

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Kitchener BA, Jorm AF (2002) Mental health first aid training for the public: evaluation of effects on knowledge, attitudes and helping behavior. BMC Psychiatry 2:10

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Lauber C, Nordt C, Falcato L, Rossler W (2003) Do people recognise mental illness? Factors influencing mental health literacy. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 253:248–251

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Parslow RA, Jorm AF (2000) Who uses mental health services in Australia? An analysis of data from the National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing. Aust N Z J Psychiatry 34:997–1008

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Pinfold V, Toulmin H, Thornicroft G, Huxley P, Farmer P, Graham T (2003) Reducing psychiatric stigma and discrimination: evaluation of educational interventions in UK secondary schools. Br J Psychiatry 182:342–346

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Post RM, Weiss SR (1998) Sensitization and kindling phenomena in mood, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorders: the role of serotonergic mechanisms in illness progression. Biol Psychiatry 44:193–206

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Rickwood D, Cavanagh S, Curtis L, Sakrouge R (2004) Educating young people about mental health and mental illness: evaluating a school-based programme. Int J Ment Health Promot 6:23–32

    Google Scholar 

  25. Rickwood D, Deane FP, Wilson CJ, Ciarrochi J (2005) Young people’s help-seeking for mental health problems. Australian e-Journal for the Advancement of Mental Health 4: Supplement. http://www.auseinet.com/journal/vol4iss3suppl/rickwood.pdf

  26. Rickwood DJ, Braithwaite VA (1994) Social-psychological factors affecting help-seeking for emotional problems. Soc Sci Med 39:563–572

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Saunders SM, Resnick MD, Hoberman HM, Blum RW (1994) Formal help-seeking behavior of adolescents identifying themselves as having mental health problems. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 33:718–728

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Sawyer MG, Arney FM, Baghurst PA, Clark JJ, Graetz BW, Kosky RJ, Nurcombe B, Patton GC, Prior MR, Raphael B, Rey J, Whaites LC, Zubrick SR (2000) The mental health of young people in Australia. Mental Health and Special Programs Branch, Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care, Canberra

    Google Scholar 

  29. Scheff TJ (1974) The labelling theory of mental illness. Am Sociol Rev 39:444–452

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Thompson A, Hunt C, Issakidis C (2004) Why wait? Reasons for delay and prompts to seek help for mental health problems in an Australian clinical sample. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 39:810–817

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Wang PS, Berglund P, Olfson M, Pincus HA, Wells KB, Kessler RC (2005) Failure and delay in initial treatment contact after first onset of mental disorders in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication. Arch Gen Psychiatry 62:603–613

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. World Health Organization (1993) The ICD-10 classification of mental and behavioural disorders: diagnostic criteria for research. WHO, Geneva

    Google Scholar 

  33. Wright A, Harris MG, Wiggers JH, Jorm AF, Cotton SM, Harrigan SM, Hurworth RE, McGorry PD (2005) Recognition of depression and psychosis by young Australians and their beliefs about treatment. Med J Aust 183:18–23

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Wright A, McGorry PD, Harris MG, Jorm AF, Pennell K (2006) Development and evaluation of a youth mental health community awareness campaign—The Compass Strategy. BMC Public Health 6:215

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Zachrisson HD, Rodje K, Mykletun A (2006) Utilization of health services in relation to mental health problems in adolescents: a population based survey. BMC Public Health 6:34

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Zwaanswijk M, Van der Ende J, Verhaak PF, Bensing JM, Verhulst FC (2003) Factors associated with adolescent mental health service need and utilization. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 42:692–700

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Zwaanswijk M, Verhaak PF, Bensing JM, van der Ende J, Verhulst FC (2003) Help seeking for emotional and behavioural problems in children and adolescents: a review of recent literature. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 12:153–161

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The study was supported by grants from ANZ Trustees and beyondblue: the national depression initiative. Support for data analysis and writing was provided by the Colonial Foundation and an NHMRC Fellowship. Ruth Parslow assisted with the statistical analysis and Amy Morgan with refinement of the text.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. ORYGEN Research Centre, University of Melbourne, Locked Bag 10, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia

    Annemarie Wright, Anthony F. Jorm, Meredith G. Harris & Patrick D. McGorry

Authors
  1. Annemarie Wright
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Anthony F. Jorm
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Meredith G. Harris
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Patrick D. McGorry
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Anthony F. Jorm.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Wright, A., Jorm, A.F., Harris, M.G. et al. What’s in a name? Is accurate recognition and labelling of mental disorders by young people associated with better help-seeking and treatment preferences?. Soc Psychiat Epidemiol 42, 244–250 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-006-0156-x

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-006-0156-x

Key words

Search

Navigation