Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Disorder-specific Differences

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
The Stigma of Mental Illness - End of the Story?

Abstract

Disorder-specific differences in stigma may be most visible on the part of people who are most often aware of what the disorder is during their contact with the potential targets of stigma. As those who make or are informed of the diagnosis as part of their job, health professionals are the most obvious group in which to seek evidence for such differences. However, public education campaigns mean that the general public is increasingly knowledgeable about those disorders included in the content of such campaigns. Therefore, this chapter summarises evidence for mental disorder-specific differences in stigma on the part of both the general public and health professionals. It also considers the evidence for disorder-specific interventions to reduce stigma and discrimination, including those targeted to either or both of health professionals and the general public. In addition to reviewing evidence from surveys and intervention studies with respect to these two groups, I review disorder-specific studies of newspaper coverage, as media depictions of mental illness exert considerable influence on public attitudes.

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

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 149.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 199.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Bander KW, Goldman DS, Schwartz MA, Rabinowitz E, English J (1987) Survey of attitudes among three specialities in a teaching hospital toward alcoholics. J Med Educ 62:17–24

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Beldie A, Den Boer JA, Brain C, Constant E, Figueira ML, Filipcic I, Gillain B, Jakovljevic M, Jarema M, Jelenova D, Karamustafalioglu O, Kores Plesnicar B, Kovacsova A, Latalova K, Marksteiner J, Palha F, Pecenak J, Prasko J, Prelipceanu D, Ringen PA, Sartorius N, Seifritz E, Svestka J, Tyszkowska M, Wancata J (2012) Fighting stigma of mental illness in midsize European countries. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 47(Suppl 1):1–38

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bell JS, Johns R, Chen TF (2006) Pharmacy students’ and graduates’ attitudes towards people with schizophrenia and severe depression. Am J Pharm Educ 70:77

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Bjorkman T, Angelman T, Jonsson M (2008) Attitudes towards people with mental illness: a cross-sectional study among nursing staff in psychiatric and somatic care. Scand J Caring Sci 22:170–177

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bonnington O (2013) Experiences of stigma and discrimination amongst people with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder or borderline personality disorder and their informal carers: an exploratory study. Ph D, University of London

    Google Scholar 

  • Borinstein A (1992) Public attitudes towards persons with mental illness. Health Aff (Millwood) 3:186–196

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Borschmann RG, Jones N, Henderson RC (2014) Campaigns to reduce mental illness stigma in Europe: a scoping review. Die Psychiatrie, in press

    Google Scholar 

  • Brohan E, Slade M, Clement S, Rose D, Sartorius N, Thornicroft G (2013) Development and psychometric validation of the Discrimination and Stigma Scale (DISC). Psychiatry Research. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2013.03.007i

  • Cechnicki A, Angermeyer MC, Bielańska A (2011) Anticipated and experienced stigma among people with schizophrenia: its nature and correlates. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 46(7):643–650. doi: 10.1007/s00127-010-0230-2. Epub 2010 May 22

  • Commons Treloar AJ, Lewis AJ (2008a) Targeted clinical education for staff attitudes towards deliberate self-harm in borderline personality disorder: randomized controlled trial. Aust N Z J Psychiatry 42:981–988

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Commons Treloar AJ, Lewis AJ (2008b) Professional attitudes towards deliberate self-harm in patients with borderline personality disorder. Aust N Z J Psychiatry 42:578–584

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Corker E, Hamilton S, Henderson C, Weeks C, Pinfold V, Rose D, Williams P, Flach C, Gill V, Lewis-Holmes E (2013) Experiences of discrimination among people using mental health services in England 2008–2011. Br J Psychiatry 202:s58–s63

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Crisp A, Gelder MG, Goddard E, Meltzer H (2005) Stigmatization of people with mental illnesses: a follow-up study within the changing minds campaign of the Royal College of Psychiatrists. World Psychiatry 4:106–113

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Deans C, Meocevic E (2006) Attitudes of registered psychiatric nurses towards patients diagnosed with borderline personality disorder. Contemp Nurse 21:43–49

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dietrich S, Beck M, Bujantugs B, Kenzine D, Matschinger H, Angermeyer MC (2004) The relationship between public causal beliefs and social distance toward mentally ill people. Aust N Z J Psychiatry 38:348–354

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dietrich S, Heider D, Matschinger H, Angermeyer MC (2006) Influence of newspaper reporting on adolescents’ attitudes toward people with mental illness. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 41:318–322

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dietrich S, Mergl R, Freudenberg P, Althaus D, Hegerl U (2010) Impact of a campaign on the public’s attitudes towards depression. Health Educ Res 25:135–150

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dillner L (1992) Colleges join together to fight depression. BMJ 304:337

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Evans-Lacko S, Henderson C, Thornicroft G (2013) Public knowledge, attitudes and behaviour regarding people with mental illness in England 2009–2012. Br J Psychiatry 202:s51–s57

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Farrelly S, Clement S, Gabbidon J, Jeffery D, Dockery L, Lassman F, Brohan E, Henderson RC, Williams P, Howard LM, Thornicroft G (2014) Anticipated and experienced discrimination amongst people with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder: a cross sectional study. BMC Psychiatry 14:157

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Fernando SM, Deane FP, McLeod HJ (2010) Sri Lankan doctors’ and medical undergraduates’ attitudes towards mental illness. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 45:733–739

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Francis C, Pirkis J, Dunt D, Blood RW (2001) Mental health and illness in the media. Australian Department of Health and Aged Care, Melbourne

    Google Scholar 

  • Fraser K, Gallop R (1993) Nurses’ confirming/disconfirming responses to patients diagnosed with borderline personality disorder. Arch Psychiatr Nurs 7:336–341

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gaebel W, Baumann AE (2003) Interventions to reduce the stigma associated with severe mental illness: experiences from the open the doors programme in Germany. Can J Psychiatry 48:657–662

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gerace LM, Hughes TL, Spunt J (1995) Improving nurses’ responses toward substance-misusing patients: a clinical evaluation project. Arch Psychiatr Nurs 9(5):286–294. PubMed PMID: 1995031825. Language: English. Entry Date: 19951101. Revision Date: 20091218. Publication Type: journal article

    Google Scholar 

  • Gilchrist G, Moskalewicz J, Slezakova S, Okruhlica L, Torrens M, Vajd R, Baldacchino A (2011) Staff regard towards working with substance users: a European multi-centre study. Addiction 106:1114–1125

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Goulden R, Corker E, Evans-Lacko S, Rose D, Thornicroft G, Henderson C (2011) Newspaper coverage of mental illness in the UK, 1992–2008. BMC Public Health 11:796

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Grausgruber A, Schöny W, Grausgruber-Berner R, Koren G, Frajo AB, Wancata J, Meise U (2009) “Schizophrenia has many faces” – evaluation of the Austrian anti-stigma-campaign 2000–2002 (German). Psychiatr Prax 36:327–333

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Happell BT (2001) Negative attitudes towards clients with drug and alcohol related problems: Finding the elusive solution. Aust N Z J Ment Health Nurs 10:87–96

    Google Scholar 

  • Hayes SC, Bissett R, Roget N, Padilla I, Kohlenberg BS, Fisher G, Masuda A, Pistoreleo J, Rye AK, Berry K, Niccolls R (2004) The impact of acceptance and commitment training and multicultural training on the stigmatizing attitudes and professional burnout of substance abuse counselors. Behav Ther 35:821–835

    Article  Google Scholar 

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

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hegerl U, Althaus D, Schmidtke A, Niklewski G (2006) The alliance against depression: 2-year evaluation of a community-based intervention to reduce suicidality. Psychol Med 36:1225–1234

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Henderson C, Noblett J, Parke H, Clement S, Caffrey A, Gale-Grant O, Schulze B, Druss B, Thornicroft G (2014) Mental health related stigma in health care and mental health care settings. Lancet Psychiatry 1:467–482

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jorm AF, Korten AE, Jacomb PA, Christensen H, Henderson S (1999) Attitudes towards people with a mental disorder: a survey of the Australian public and health professionals. Aust N Z J Psychiatry 33:77–83

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jorm AF, Christensen H, Griffiths KM (2005) The impact of beyondblue: the national depression initiative on the Australian public’s recognition of depression and beliefs about treatments. Aust N Z J Psychiatry 39:248–254

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Klin A, Lemish D (2008) Mental disorders stigma in the media: review of studies on production, content, and influences. J Health Commun 13:434–449

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Knifton L, Quinn N (2008) Media, mental health and discrimination: a Frame of reference for understanding reporting trends. Int J Ment Health Promot 10:23–31

    Google Scholar 

  • Kohlbauer D, Meise U, Schenner M, Sulzenbacher H, Frajo-Apor B, Meller H, Günther V (2010) Does education focusing on depression change the attitudes towards schizophrenia? A target-group oriented anti-stigma-intervention]. Neuropsychiatrie: Klin Diagn Therapie Rehab: Organ Ges Österreichischer Nervenärzte Psychiater 24:132

    Google Scholar 

  • Krawitz R (2008) Borderline personality disorder: attitudinal change following training. Aust N Z J Psychiatry 38(7):554–559

    Google Scholar 

  • Lasalvia A, Zoppei S, Van BT, Bonetto C, Cristofalo D, Wahlbeck K, et al (2012) Global pattern of experienced and anticipated discrimination reported by people with major depressive disorder: a cross-sectional survey. Lancet 381:55–62.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lauber C, Anthony M, Jdacic-Gross V, Rossler W (2004) What about psychiatrists’ attitude to mentally ill people? Eur Psychiatry 19:423–427

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Livingston JD, Boyd JE (2010) Correlates and consequences of internalized stigma for people living with mental illness: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Soc Sci Med 71(12):2150–2161. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2010.09.030

  • Livingston JD, Milne T, Fang ML, Amari E (2012) The effectiveness of interventions for reducing stigma related to substance use disorders: a systematic review. Addiction 107(1):39–50

    Google Scholar 

  • Macaskill A, Macaskill ND, Nicol A (1997) The defeat depression campaign a mid-point evaluation of its impact on general practitioners. Psychiatr Bull 21:148–150

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Magliano L, De Rosa C, Fiorillo A, Malangone C, Guarneri M, Marasco C, Maj M, The Working Group of the Italian National Study on Families of Persons with Schizophrenia (2004) Beliefs of psychiatric nurses about schizophrenia: a comparison with patients’ relatives and psychiatrists. Int J Soc Psychiatry 50:319–330

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mann CE, Himelein MJ (2004) Factors associated with stigmatization of persons with mental illness. Psychiatr Serv 55(2):185–187

    Google Scholar 

  • Miller SA, Davenport NC (1996) Increasing staff knowledge of and improving attitudes toward patients with borderline personality disorder. Psychiatr Serv 47

    Google Scholar 

  • Minas H, Zamzam R, Midin M, Cohen A (2011) Attitudes of Malaysian general hospital staff towards patients with mental illness and diabetes. BMC Public Health 11:317

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Morgan H (1979) Death wishes: the understanding and management of deliberate self harm. Wiley, Chichester

    Google Scholar 

  • Muehlenkamp JL, Claes L, Quigley K, Prosser E, Claes S, Jan D (2013) Association of training on attitudes towards self-injuring clients across health professionals. Arch Suicide Res 17:462–468

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mukherjee R, Fialho A, Wijetunge A, Checinski K, Surgenor T (2002) The stigmatisation of psychiatric illness: the attitudes of medical students and doctors in a London teaching hospital. Psychiatr Bull 26:178–181

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Naeem F, Ayub M, Javed Z, Irfan M, Haral F, Kingdon D (2006) Stigma and psychiatric illness. A survey of attitude of medical students and doctors in Lahore, Pakistan. J Ayub Med Col Abbottabad: JAMC 18:46–49

    Google Scholar 

  • Nordt C, Rossler W, Lauber C (2006) Attitudes of mental health professionals toward people with schizophrenia and major depression. Schizophr Bull 32:709–714

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Patterson P, Whittington R, Bogg J (2007) Measuring nurse attitudes towards deliberate self-harm: the Self-Harm Antipathy Scale (SHAS). J Psychiatr Ment Health Nurs 14(5):438–445

    Google Scholar 

  • Paykel E, Tylee A, Wright A, Priest R (1997) The defeat depression campaign: psychiatry in the public arena. Am J Psychiatry 154:59–65

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Paykel E, Hart D, Priest R (1998) Changes in public attitudes to depression during the defeat depression campaign. Br J Psychiatry 173:519–522

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pescosolido BA, Martin JK, Long JS, Medina TR, Phelan JC, Link BG (2010) “A Disease Like Any Other”? A decade of change in public reactions to schizophrenia, depression, and alcohol dependence. Am J Psychiatry 167:1321–1330

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Philo G (1996) The media and public belief. In: Philo G (ed) Media and mental distress. Longman, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Priest RG (1991) A new initiative on depression. Br J Gen Pract 41:487

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Rix S, Paykel E, Lelliott P, Tylee A, Freeling P, Gask L, Hart D (1999) Impact of a national campaign on GP education: an evaluation of the defeat depression campaign. Br J Gen Pract 49:99

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Rogers TS, Kashima Y (1998) Nurses’ responses to people with schizophrenia. J Adv Nurs 27:195–203

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Samuelsson M, Asberg M (2002) Training program in suicide prevention for psychiatric nursing personnel enhance attitudes to attempted suicide patients. Int J Nurs Stud 39:115–121

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sarkin A, Lale R, Sklar M, Center KC, Gilmer T, Fowler C, Heller R, Ojeda VD (2015) Stigma experienced by people using mental health services in San Diego County. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 50(5):747–756

    Google Scholar 

  • Sartorius N (2006) Lessons from a 10-year global programme against stigma and discrimination because of an illness. Psychol Health Med 11:383–388

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schomerus G, Schwahn C, Holzinger A, Corrigan P, Grabe H, Carta M, Angermeyer M (2012) Evolution of public attitudes about mental illness: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Acta Psychiatr Scand 125:440–452

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schöny W (1998) Schizophrenia – an illness and its treatment reflected in public attitude [German]. Wien Med Wochenschrift 148:284

    Google Scholar 

  • Schulze B (2007) Stigma and mental health professionals: a review of the evidence on an intricate relationship. Int Rev Psychiatry 19:137–155

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schulze B, Angermeyer MC (2003) Subjective experiences of stigma. A focus group study of schizophrenic patients, their relatives and mental health professionals. Soc Sci Med 56:299–312

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schulze B, Richter‐Werling M, Matschinger H, Angermeyer M (2003) Crazy? So what! Effects of a school project on students’ attitudes towards people with schizophrenia. Acta Psychiatr Scand 107:142–150

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schulze B, Janeiro M, Kiss MH (2010) Das kommt ganz drauf an… Strategien zur Stigmabewältigung von Menschen mit Schizophrenie und Borderline-Persönlichkeitsstörung. [It all depends… Strategies for managing stigma among people with schizophrenia and borderline personality disorder]. Psychiatr Psychol Psychother 58:275–285

    Google Scholar 

  • Shanks C, Pfohl B, Blum N, Black DW (2011) Can negative attitudes toward patients with borderline personality disorder be changed? The effect of attending a STEPPS workshop. J Pers Disord 25:806–812

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Shirazi M, Parikh SV, Alaeddini F, Lonka K, Zeinaloo AA, Sadeghi M, Arbabi M, Nejatisafa AA, Shahrivar Z, Wahlstrom R (2009) Effects on knowledge and Attitudes of Using Stages of Change to Train General Practitioners on Management of Depression: A Randomised Controlled Study. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry - Revue Canadienne de Psychiatrie 54(10):693–700

    Google Scholar 

  • Stout P, Villegas J, Jennings NA (2004) Images of mental illness in the media: identifying gaps in the research. Schizophr Bull 30:543–561

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Strang J, Hunt C, Gerada C, Marsden J (2007) What difference does training make? A randomized trial with waiting-list control of general practitioners seeking advanced training in drug misuse. Addiction 102:1637–1647

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Stuart H, Arboleda-Flórez H, Sartorius N (2005) Stigma and mental disorders: international perspectives. World Psychiatry 4:1–62

    Google Scholar 

  • Thornicroft G (2006) Shunned: discrimination against people with mental illness. Oxford University Press, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Thornicroft G, Brohan E, Rose D, Sartorius N, Leese M (2009) Global pattern of experienced and anticipated discrimination against people with schizophrenia: a cross-sectional survey. Lancet 373:408–415

    Google Scholar 

  • Thornton J, Wahl OF (1996) Impact of a newspaper article on attitudes toward mental illness. J Community Psychol 24:17–25

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van Boekel LC, Brouwers EP, Van Weeghel J, Garretsen HF (2013) Stigma among health professionals towards patients with substance use disorders and its consequences for healthcare delivery: systematic review. Drug Alcohol Depend 131:23–35

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Vize C, Priest R (1993) Defeat depression campaign: attitudes to depression. Psychiatr Bull 17:573–574

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wahl O (1992) Mass media images of mental illness: a review of the literature. J Community Psychol 20:343–352

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wahl O, Aroesty-Cohen E (2010) Attitudes of mental health professionals about mental illness: a review of the recent literature. J Community Psychol 38:49–62

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang Y-H, Huang H-C, Liu S-I, Lu R-B (2012) Assessment of changes in confidence, attitude, and knowledge of non-psychiatric physicians undergoing a depression training program in Taiwan. Int J Psychiat Med 43(4):293–308. PubMed PMID: 2012-25679-001

    Google Scholar 

  • Warner R (2005) Local projects of the World Psychiatric Association programme to reduce stigma and discrimination. Psychiatr Serv 56:570–575

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Watts D, Morgan G (1994) Malignant alienation. Dangers for patients who are hard to like. Br J Psychiatry 164:11–15

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wilstrand C, Lindgren BM, Gilje F, Olofsson B (2007) Being burdened and balancing boundaries: a qualitative study of nurses’ experiences caring for patients who self-harm. J Psychiatr Ment Health Nurs 14:72–78

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Yap MB, Reavley NJ, Jorm AF (2012) Associations between awareness of beyond blue and mental health literacy in Australian youth: results from a national survey. Aust N Z J Psychiatry 46:541–552

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Yen CF, Chen CC, Lee Y, Tang TC, Yen JY, Ko CH (2005) Self-stigma and its correlates among outpatients with depressive disorders. Psychiatr Serv 56(5):599–601

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, De Crespigny Park, P029, London, SE5 8AF, UK

    Claire Henderson

Authors
  1. Claire Henderson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Claire Henderson .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Heinrich-Heine-University LVR-Klinikum Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany

    Wolfgang Gaebel

  2. Psychiatric University Hospital University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

    Wulf Rössler

  3. Association for the Improvement of Mental Health Programmes, Geneva, Switzerland

    Norman Sartorius

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2017 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Henderson, C. (2017). Disorder-specific Differences. In: Gaebel, W., Rössler, W., Sartorius, N. (eds) The Stigma of Mental Illness - End of the Story?. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-27839-1_5

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-27839-1_5

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-27837-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-27839-1

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation