Citation

Ellison N, Mason O, Scior K. Br. J. Psychiatry 2015; 206(4): 341-342.

Affiliation

Nell Ellison, MA(Hons), DclinPsy, Oliver Mason, BSc, DClinPsy, PhD, Katrina Scior, BSc, DClinPsych, PhD, Research Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, London, UK.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, Royal College of Psychiatry)

DOI

10.1192/bjp.bp.114.146217

PMID

25573395

Abstract

Renaming disorders to change public beliefs and attitudes remains controversial. This study compared the potentially destigmatising effects of renaming schizophrenia with the effects of renaming bipolar disorder by comparing the label 'schizophrenia' to 'integration disorder', and 'bipolar disorder' to 'manic depression', in 1621 lay participants. 'Bipolar disorder' was associated with less fear and social distance than 'manic depression'. 'Integration disorder' was associated with increased endorsement of a biopsychosocial cause and reduced attributions of dangerousness but also increased social distance, highlighting the complex effects renaming has on stigma.

Language: en