Comparing biomedical and psychosocial-cultural models in reducing public stigma toward schizophrenia: A holistic...

Existing studies have primarily examined how biogenetic explanations for the causes of mental illness influence stigma, while largely neglecting the impact of presenting psychiatric medication or medical techniques as the primary solutions. The present study addresses this gap by experimentally investigating the effects of presenting the full biomedical model, including both explanations and treatments for the symptoms of schizophrenia, to the public on stigma. Furthermore, it compares these effects with those of a psychosocial-cultural model across nine experimental conditions. This study was exploratory in nature.

A total of 1067 participants from China were randomly assigned to one of nine groups: 1) Diverse Explanation + Diverse Solution, 2) Diverse Explanation + Biomedical Solution, 3) Diverse Explanation Only, 4) Biomedical Explanation + Biomedical Solution, 5) Biomedical Explanation + Diverse Solution, 6) Biomedical Explanation Only, 7) Diverse Solution Only, 8) Biomedical Solution Only, and 9) Control. Participants completed pre-experiment, post-experiment, and one-week follow-up assessments, and viewed a 4-min video manipulating the type of explanation and solution for schizophrenia in the experiment. This study was not pre-registered.

Linear Mixed Models indicated no significant three-way interaction (Explanation x Solution x Time). However, explanations and solutions demonstrated differential effects on stigma and advocacy. Specifically, diverse solutions were more effective in reducing stigma, whereas diverse explanations were more effective in promoting private forms of collective action.

These findings offered insights that future campaigns, educational programs, and advocacy initiatives should not only explain the diverse causes of schizophrenia but also highlight concrete examples of how individuals and communities can provide support and promote recovery.