Type: article
Abstract: Background: Schizophrenia labels elicit more negative stigma than other mental illnesses. The label "clinical high risk for psychosis" (CHR), sometimes called attenuated psychosis syndrome (APS), also elicits negative stigma. We compared levels of stigma elicited by schizophrenia, CHR, and APS to a label of normative adolescent development ("a bad breakup") and no label. Methods: Ninety-six undergraduates (age 18.85 + 1.105, range 18-22) read a vignette describing an adolescent experiencing symptoms of clinical risk for psychosis. The accompanying diagnostic label (APS, CHR, schizophrenia, went through a bad breakup, or none) was counterbalanced between participants. Participants answered questions about stigma toward the individual and their prior knowledge of and familiarity with psychosis. Results: A univariate ANOVA revealed that labeling affected judgments of personal responsibility (F(4,91)=4.118, p=.004), a key component of stigma. A Tukey HSD test indicated that the breakup label elicited significantly higher ratings of personal responsibility (e.g., his fault he's in this condition) than the schizophrenia label (P<.05). Overall stigma did not significantly differ across conditions. A multiple regression revealed that knowledge significantly predicted overall stigma (β=-.392, p=.0001). Conclusion: Surprisingly, we did not find that schizophrenia, CHR, and APS labels were associated with higher stigma in this undergraduate sample. As greater levels of knowledge about psychosis were associated with lower stigma, the lack of reported stigma may reflect a greater awareness about psychosis in this population. Further exploration of stigmatizing attitudes about psychotic disorders among college students is warranted, as well as the possible impact of education about mental illness.
Language: English
Subfield: Psychiatry and Mental health
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7036692404