Differences in etiological beliefs about schizophrenia among patients, family, and medical staff

Abstract

Natsumi Tarakita,1,2 Kazutaka Yoshida,1 Norio Sugawara,3 Kazutoshi Kubo,1,4 Hanako Furukori,5 Akira Fujii,2 Kazuhiko Nakamura,1 Norio Yasui-Furukori1 1Department of Neuropsychiatry, Graduate School of Medicine, Hirosaki University, Hirosaki, Japan; 2Department of Mental Health, Mutsu City Hospital, Mutsu, Japan; 3Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Translational Medical Center, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Kodaira, Tokyo, Japan; 4Department of Neuropsychiatry, Hirosaki-Aiseikai Hospital, Hirosaki, Japan; 5Department of Neuropsychiatry, Kuroishi-Akebono Hospital, Kuroishi, Japan Objectives: To determine whether etiological beliefs are different among schizophrenia patients, their family, and medical staff. Patients and methods: A cross-sectional study was performed at five hospitals and one mental clinic and included 212 patients, 144 family members, and 347 medical staff other than psychiatrists. A questionnaire about the possible etiological causes of schizophrenia was used. Results: There were significant differences in response scores among the three groups on using Angermeyer’s and Goulding’s classifications. Factor analyses revealed the following four subscales: Psychosocial, Biological, Environmental, and Cultural connotations. The structure varied among patients, family, and medical staff. Conclusion: The perspectives of schizophrenia etiology were different among patients, family, and medical staff. Keywords: schizophrenia, etiology, perception, family, caregivers, beliefs, etiological causes, patients, medical staff

Keywords

• Keywords: Beliefs
• etiological causes
• patients
• family
• medical staff
• schizophrenia