@article{ref1,
title="Attitudes towards mental disorders and psychiatric treatment--changes over time in a Swedish population",
journal="Nordic journal of psychiatry",
year="2008",
author="Ineland, Lisa and Jacobssson, Lars and Renberg, Ellinor Salander and Sjolander, Per",
volume="62",
number="3",
pages="192-197",
abstract="Over the years a lot of research of attitudes towards mental disorders, towards people with mental illness and towards psychiatric services and treatment have shown a persistent negative attitude. There are, however, few studies on changes over time. The aim of this study was to compare responses to a questionnaire on attitudes towards mental disorders and psychiatric patients and the perception of psychiatric treatment in a community in northern Sweden in 1976 and 2003. In 1976 a random sample of 391 persons 18-70 years of age were asked and in 2003 a new sample of 500 persons from the same community were approached with the same questions. There are considerable changes over time. In 2003, almost 90% agree to the statement that mental illness harms the reputation more than physical illness, compared with 50% in 1976. In 2003, 51% agreed to the statement &quot;Most people with mental disorders commit violent acts more than others&quot; compared with 24% in 1976. There is an apparent ambivalence towards psychiatric treatment. Whilst 88% would advice a person with mental problems to contact a psychiatrist, still 26% would not like themselves to be referred to a psychiatrist. We argue that improving treatment methods is as important as changing attitudes through accurate information.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0803-9488",
doi="10.1080/08039480801962855",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/08039480801962855"
}