Attitudes to psychiatric research, early detection of schizophrenic psychosis, and stigmatization: A survey with relatives of mentally ill patients

Objective: To assess attitudes of relatives of mentally ill patients to psy chiatric research, especially to early detection of schizophrenic psychosis , and to evaluate the potential stigmatization effect of an early diagnosis of schizophrenic psychosis. Methods: A questionnaire was sent to relatives of mentally ill patients, all members of a self-help group in Switzerland. They were asked to answer structured questions about their personal attitu de to psychiatric research in general, their willingness to support an affe cted person to participate in a research project, their attitude to early d etection of schizophrenia and to the potential stigmatization of an early d iagnosis. Results: 88% of the relatives (n = 200) have a positive attitude to research in psychiatry. 47% would support their affected family member t o participate in a research project whereas 39% would not. 52.5% fully shar e the expectation of psychiatric research to attain a better course by earl ier detection of psychosis, 24.5% tend to agree. 20.5% of the respondents i ndicate a fear of stigmatization for the affected by earlier diagnosis, whi le 12% fear stigmatization for themselves. Conclusions: A surprising fact i s the positive attitude of relatives to psychiatric research in general, bu t also to early detection of schizophrenic psychosis. But this cannot lead to the conclusion that relatives are supporting the participation of an aff ected family member in research. The small number of relatives that fears a stigmatization by earlier diagnosis of schizophrenic psychosis shows that stigmatization depends on other factors than the diagnosis, i.e. psychiatri c hospitalization or medication side effects. These findings encourage psyc hiatric research to increase knowledge of the early phase of schizophrenia in favor of patients and their relatives.