[Knowledge about the attitude to mental disorders. An interview study prior to last autumn's TV-action]

In June 1992 a random sample of 1,191 Norwegians were interviewed about their knowledge concerning mental disorders and psychiatric research, and their attitudes in this connection. The study shows that people tend to underestimate the prevalence of mental illness, and they are less willing to talk freely about a mental disorder in the family than about cancer. People have a relatively good understanding of the aetiology of mental disorders. They are less willing, however, to support psychiatric research financially compared with cancer research.