Can renaming schizophrenia reduce negative attitudes toward patients in Turkey?

Abstract

Aim: To determine the perception of the term schizophrenia among university students. Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed in April 2015 with students from Canik Baar University (Samsun/Turkey). A patient history was first established. We then investigated to what extent students agreed with 10 statements based on that patient history. Three separate questionnaire forms (versions A, B and C), differing only in terms of the diagnosis in the patient in the history, were prepared. The three diagnoses were Schizophrenia' (version A), A psychiatric disease by the name of Bleuler's syndrome' (version B) and Brain tumor' (version C). The questionnaires were administered in a class environment. In all, 771 students participated. Results: Statistically significant differences between the forms were determined in only two statements (A.'s disease will represent a problem in A.'s future career' and A. will in all probability have problems with the law in the future'). While no difference was determined between versions A and B at two-way comparisons, a statistically significant difference was observed between versions A and B and version C. Conclusion: No difference was determined between students' attitudes toward a diagnosis of schizophrenia' and one of a psychiatric disease known as Bleuler's syndrome'. The focus in preventing stigmatization of schizophrenia should not concentrate on a name change alone. Changing the name schizophrenia may be of no use unless public ignorance and fear of psychiatric diseases can also be overcome.