Perception of patients’ unpredictability and beliefs on the causes and consequences of schizophrenia

BACKGROUND: The belief that mental disorders involve a high risk of unpredictable behaviours is a factor which influences negatively the social acceptance of the mentally ill. In this paper, we compare the beliefs about the causes and psychosocial consequences of schizophrenia expressed by 536 respondents who had the firm conviction that patients with schizophrenia are unpredictable and by 457 respondents who firmly believed that they are not. METHODS: The survey was conducted in 30 Italian geographic areas, randomly selected taking into account their location and population density. The data were collected by the Questionnaire about Opinions on Mental Illness (QO). RESULTS: Respondents who believed that patients with schizophrenia are unpredictable reported more frequently factors such as use of alcohol and drugs and frequenting bad company as being involved in the development of the disorder. In addition, this group showed more restrictive opinions about patients' civil and affective rights. Low education was found to be significantly associated with perception of "unpredictability" in schizophrenia. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest the need to: a). inform the general public on the main clinical characteristics of schizophrenia and on the risk of unpredictable behaviours in the acute phases of this mental disorder; b). carry out sensitisation campaigns against discrimination toward people with schizophrenia emphasising successful experiences of social integration.