Attitudes towards help-seeking and stigma among young people at risk for psychosis

Nicolas Rüsch; Karsten Heekeren; Anastasia Theodoridou; Diane Dvorsky; Mario Müller; Tobias Paust; Patrick W Corrigan; Susanne Walitza; Wulf Rössler

doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2013.08.028

Attitudes towards help-seeking and stigma among young people at risk for psychosis

Psychiatry Res. 2013 Dec 30;210(3):1313-5. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2013.08.028. Epub 2013 Sep 4.

Authors

Nicolas Rüsch¹, Karsten Heekeren, Anastasia Theodoridou, Diane Dvorsky, Mario Müller, Tobias Paust, Patrick W Corrigan, Susanne Walitza, Wulf Rössler

Affiliation

¹ Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric University Hospital Zürich, Switzerland; Department of Psychiatry II, University of Ulm, Germany. Electronic address: nicolas.ruesch@uni-ulm.de.

PMID: 24012162
DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2013.08.028

Abstract

The role of self-labeling as 'mentally ill' and of stigma-related stress for help-seeking among young people at risk for psychosis is unknown. Stronger self-labeling and less stigma stress predicted better attitudes towards psychiatric medication and psychotherapy, controlling for clinical and sociodemographic variables. Interventions could target stigma-related stress to increase help-seeking.

Keywords: At-risk mental state; Labeling; Service use.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice*
Humans
Male
Mental Disorders / psychology
Mental Health Services / statistics & numerical data*
Patient Acceptance of Health Care / psychology*
Psychotherapy
Psychotic Disorders / psychology*
Psychotic Disorders / therapy
Self Concept
Social Stigma*
Socioeconomic Factors
Stereotyping*
Stress, Psychological
Switzerland
Young Adult