Public stigma in relation to individuals with depression
Received 11 June 2008; received in revised form 18 August 2008; accepted 20 August 2008.
Abstract
Objective
To assess public stigma in relation to individuals with depression and possible factors associated with this phenomenon.
Methods
A cross-sectional study was conducted with a probabilistic sample of 500 individuals who live in the city of São Paulo, Brazil, and are aged between 18 and 65 years. A structured questionnaire was used, and it was applied in person. Questionnaire began with the presentation of a vignette describing an individual with depression (according to DSM-IV and ICD-10). This was followed by a structured questionnaire that assessed perceived negative reactions and discrimination, perceived dangerousness and emotional reactions in relation to the case presented in the vignette.
Results
Individuals with depression were perceived as potentially dangerous by 56% of interviewees. In addition, 49% of the sample perceived them as capable of arousing negative reactions, and 41%, as capable of arousing discrimination in society. However, emotional reactions reported by the interviewees themselves were mainly positive in nature. Those who identified the vignette as a mental illness were the ones who more often perceived dangerousness, stigma and discrimination.
Conclusion
This study indicated that individuals with depression face a substantial amount of stigma, pointing to the need to gain in-depth knowledge about its impact on the experiences of these individuals, as well as to implement anti-stigma programs that focus on this disorder in the Brazilian context.
Department of Psychiatry, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
Corresponding author. Department of Psychiatry, Federal University of São Paulo, Rua Botucatu, 740, 04023-900 São Paulo-SP, Brazil. Tel.: +55 11 55764160; fax: +55 11 55717254.
ABSTRACT