Belief systems of the general public concerning the appropriate treatments for mental disorders

A study was conducted to assess the belief systems of the general public concerning the appropriate treatments for mental disorders and correlates of these belief systems. The study was based on the results of a household survey of the general public in Australia, using a national random sample of 2,031 adults aged 18-74 years. Respondents were given a vignette describing either a person with depression or one with schizophrenia, and were asked for their opinions about the helpfulness of various professional and non-professional treatments for the person described. A principal components analysis of the helpfulness ratings gave three factors: a Medical factor with high loadings on all drug treatments (except Vitamins) and on Psychiatric ward and ECT; a Psychological factor with high loadings on Counsellor, Social Worker, Phone counselling, Psychiatrist, Psychologist, Psychotherapy and Hypnosis; and a Lifestyle factor with high loadings on Close family, Close friends, Naturopath, Vitamins, Physical activity and Get out more. The same factors emerged from ratings of the two vignettes. Mean scores on scales constructed from the items with high loadings showed that the public tend to have a negative view of medical treatments and a positive view of psychological and lifestyle ones. However, medical treatments were rated more negatively for depression than for schizophrenia, psychological treatments were rated more positively for schizophrenia, and lifestyle treatments more positively for depression. Age, sex and education of respondents showed few associations with scores on the scales, although the better educated were more in favour of psychological treatments for both depression and schizophrenia and were less opposed to medical treatments for schizophrenia. Respondents who had suffered from the symptoms described in the schizophrenia vignette were more negative towards medical treatments. These findings about public belief systems could have implications for the provision of treatment: where there is a discrepancy in belief system between the patient and the clinician there may be poor adherence to treatment.