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Biomedical subjects

M C Angermeyer

Publications and source records attributed to M C Angermeyer.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

[Social distance of the population toward psychiatric patients].

The focus of the present study centers on the attitude of the German public's attitude towards mentally ill individuals during the early 1990s, using the extent of social distance as its indicator. The study is based on a number of representative surveys carried out between 1990 and 1993. We found that alcohol dependents met with the highest level of rejection, even more so than those suffering from schizophrenia. Furthermore, personal experience with mental illness is associated with a lower level of desired social distance, which may be attributed to an increase of positive emotional reactions and reduced feelings of anxiety. There is a clear association between the social distance maintained by certain persons towards the mentally ill and the desired social distance displayed by the same persons to other "aliens", strangers or outsiders.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Violent attacks on public figures by persons suffering from psychiatric disorders. Their effect on the social distance towards the mentally ill.

In connection with two attempts on the lives of prominent politicians committed by mentally ill individuals during 1990 there occurred a marked increase in social distance towards the mentally ill among the German public. Even though the level of social distance subsided again during the 2 years following the attacks, it had not yet completely returned to its initial level by the end of 1992. The negative effects of these incidents on the attitude of the general public were able to be replicated on a regional level, after yet another violent attack by a mentally ill assailant in 1993, this time on the life of a famous female athlete.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Lay beliefs about schizophrenic disorder: the results of a population survey in Germany.

According to Fishbein & Ajzen's theory of reasoned action, normative expectations on the part of significant others influence the compliance of schizophrenic patients. These expectations in turn are determined for the most part by the beliefs prevailing in society regarding this illness and the adequate treatment thereof. Results from a representative study conducted in Germany after reunification in 1990 demonstrate the disagreement on essential issues between lay beliefs and psychiatric teaching. Compared with experts in psychiatry, the lay public attaches great importance to current psychosocial influences for the aetiology of schizophrenic disorder. It prefers psychological methods of treatment, maintaining a reserved stance with regard to treatment with psychotropic drugs. Negative consequences for compliance with the latter on the part of the patients are to be expected as a result.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

[Effect of assassination attempts on Lafontaine and Schäuble on public opinion about psychiatric patients. Part 1: 1990 development].

In 1990 two assassination attempts against prominent German politicians were carried out by mentally ill persons. In the same year we conducted three representative surveys of the adult population of the FRG (old Länder and West Berlin) which allowed us to investigate the impact of both events on the attitude of the public towards the mentally ill. Already shortly after the first violent attack there was a marked increase of social distance, i.e. those questioned were less willing to have contact with a schizophrenic man. After the second assassination attempt the tendency to reject such a person increased again significantly. This applied to all forms of relationships studied. The increase of social distance is explained by the re-activation of the stereotype of the dangerous and unpredictable "insane" person.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

[Effects on assassination attempts on Lafontaine and Schäuble on public opinion about psychiatric patients. Part 2: 1991 development].

As reported in the first part of our paper, in reaction to two assassination attempts carried out on schizophrenic persons there was a marked increase of social distance of the German public towards schizophrenic persons. Based on two further inquiries we are able to show that social distance decreased slightly during the course of 1991, but at the end of the year was still increased as compared with the situation in early 1990 before the first assassination attempt occurred. There was a corresponding trend in the popular stereotype of psychiatric patients. Our findings indicate, however, that the increase of social distance was specific for schizophrenic behaviour, since no such development could be observed in relation to major depressive disorder, for which the degree of rejection by the public did not change during the study period. Comparison between the first and final surveys reveals that, besides those persons who had never had contact with psychiatric patients, those who were personally involved as patients or relatives also reacted to the acts of violence by an increase in social distance. Among those who themselves were providing professional or lay help, or who had psychiatric patients among their friends or acquaintances, in contrast, the degree of social distance remained unchanged.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

[Attitude of medical students to treatment with psychotropic drugs. 1: Comparison between medical students and the general population].

The attitudes of medical students towards psychotropic drugs are compared with those of the general public. Students strike a more positive balance between the costs and benefits of this treatment method. Whereas there are no marked differences as concerns desirable effects both groups differ considerably in the assessment of the limitations and risk of undesirable side-effects with students being less sceptical in this respect. Also with regard to other attitudinal domains student's judgement is more favourable. However, this does not mean that there is not a remarkably large group which articulates reservations against the use of psychotropic drugs. Whereas the majority of the lay public considers psychotherapy in general as superior to psychopharmacotherapy most students tend to differentiate between the various forms of psychiatric disorder.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

[Attitude of medical students to treatment with psychotropic drugs. 2: Change in attitude in the course of medical education].

Advanced medical students' attitude to psychotropic drugs is more positive than the lay public's view on that subject (see part I). The question arises if this is a result of the psychiatric and psychopharmacological knowledge students have acquired during their medical education or an effect of selection by which students already have a more positive opinion of psychotropic drugs before the commencement of their medical education. Our survey in three differently advanced groups of medical students (n = 323) was carried out with a questionnaire. In contrast to their scepticism concerning psychopharmacological treatment students in the beginning of their medical education estimate others than psychotropic drugs ly than the lay public. This may be explained by a beginning identification with the model of a quickly and effectively treating doctor. In the course of medical and especially psychiatric and psychopharmacological education, there is a tendency to a more differentiated and positive view on the effects of psychotropic drugs although the generally critical attitude persists.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Benefits and risks of psychotropic medication in the eyes of the general public: results of a survey in the Federal Republic of Germany.

In 1990, a survey of the population of the FRG, including the new states, was carried out to investigate the attitude of the general public toward psychotropic drugs. This showed that they are regarded with fare more suspicion than trust. Their use in the treatment of mental disorder was rejected twice as often as it was recommended. Those questioned submitted three main arguments against the use of psychotropics: (1) they can cause unwanted effects, in particular dependency; (2) their action is restricted, i.e., they only treat the symptoms and not the cause of the illness; (3) they are ineffective, having either no effect or effects of doubtful or temporary nature. The use of psychotropic agents was recommended, if at all, for the purpose of sedating the patients, providing relief from their problems, and lessening their symptoms.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

[Pro and contra: psychotherapy and psychopharmacotherapy attitude of the public].

As shown by the results of a representative survey carried out in the FRG in 1990, psychotherapy is much favoured over psychotropic drug treatment by the lay public. This holds similarly for the treatment of schizophrenia, depression, and panic disorder. The decision in favour of psychotherapy is primarily motivated by the assumption that this treatment modality provides an opportunity for personal exchange and that it will be carried out by a competent therapist. The lays' beliefs about psychotherapy are rather global. They are very much influenced by the social representations of psychoanalysis as a method that treats the cause of the problem. The knowledge of psychotropic drugs, as well, is rather unprecise. Their image is mostly determined by that of the tranquilizers as drugs with a high risk of dependency and a primarily sedative effect.

Anxiety Disorders↗
PubMed1992

[Mentally ill patients: viewed from 2 perspectives. A methodological contribution on attitudinal research in psychiatry].

The impact of the change in perspective (i.e. the personal opinion of those questioned versus what they perceive the others' opinion toward the mentally ill to be) on the results of the questionnaire is examined based on data from two population surveys measuring attitudes towards the mentally ill. As expected, the respondents' attitudes towards the mentally ill are more positive if they are asked to give their own opinion. The impact that the variation of the two formulations of these questions has on the respondents increases with their level of education and reaches a substantial amount among those with "Abitur". Furthermore, the answers are clearer and more definite if those questioned are asked for their personal opinion.

Attitude to Health↗
PubMed1991

[Variation of response structures in relation to degree of personal involvement--a methodologic study exemplified by the "Discrimination Devaluation Scale"].

When comparing results from different populations there is an underlying assumption that the response patterns elicited by the instrument used are stabile across the study groups. But it remains an open question whether this assumption is correct or not--especially in the case when the populations are involved to a different degree into the problem which is the object of the investigation. In fact, we are able to show that the dimensional structure of an instrument developed for the evaluation of stigma psychiatric patients are exposed to, varies depending on the degree of personal involvement with psychiatric disorder. This leads us to the conclusion that a quantitative comparison of parameters appears not warranted as long as the dimensional stability of the instrument over the various populations has not been shown.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Gender and the course of schizophrenia: differences in treated outcomes.

A survey of the literature suggests that women tend to exhibit a more favorable course of schizophrenia than men. This seems to be true for a range of outcome measures, such as hospital treatment, psychopathology, and social adaptation. Due to methodological limitations, however, the empirical evidence for gender differences in outcome is not wholly consistent. In 1983, a study of first-admitted patients with DSM-III diagnoses of schizophrenia or schizophreniform disorder (n = 278) from the Greater Hannover area in the Federal Republic of Germany followed patients for an average of 3 years. The present study has followed these patients for an average of 8 years. When confounding factors (e.g., age and marital status) were controlled for, schizophrenic women showed a better course of hospital treatment, experienced a shorter length of hospital stay, and survived longer in the community after their first hospital admission. Only the number of hospitalizations did not differ significantly between the sexes in the present study in contrast to the original study.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

[Do schizophrenic psychoses lead to a reversal of sex-specific role behavior? Results of an explorative study].

Some findings reported in literature suggest a reversal of sex-specific role behavior in schizophrenic patients. To test this hypothesis, a secondary analysis of the psychopathological status documented in the charts of first admitted schizophrenic patients was carried out. The patients came from a defined geographical region. Operationalized diagnostic criteria were applied. The influence of confounding variables was controlled. Our findings do not support the hypothesized sex-specific role enactment reversal. Schizophrenic men and women showed far more similarities than differences which were, contrary to our expectations, in agreement with general sex-dependent behavioral patterns and in no way specific for schizophrenia.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Gender differences in schizophrenia: rehospitalization and community survival.

This study tested the hypothesis that schizophrenic men experience a poorer course than schizophrenic women. A representative sample from Hannover, FRG, including 278 first admission DSM-III schizophrenics, were followed for three years. Findings demonstrated that schizophrenic women experience fewer rehospitalizations, shorter lengths of stay, and survive longer in the community than schizophrenic men. Implications of the role of gender for schizophrenia are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

[Sex-related variations in the course of schizophrenic disease. A review].

Based on an extensive literature review the evidence for gender differences in the course of schizophrenia is examined. If gender differences were reported, which was the case in about one half of the studies, they were almost exclusively in favour of female patients. This applied similarly to hospital career, psychopathology, and social adjustment. Unfortunately, due to methodological limitations the results are often difficult to interpret. However, in a number of recent studies of high methodological standard, gender differences could also be shown. It is discussed to what extent a greater vulnerability or exposure to social stress on the part of males and/or better coping resources and greater social support on the part of females might be responsible for this finding.

Female↗
PubMed1988

Geographical distribution of mortality rates for cerebrovascular disease in Lower Saxony (Federal Republic of Germany).

Using the official mortality statistics for the 46 districts of Lower Saxony (Federal Republic of Germany) for the years 1975-1977, the geographical distribution of mortality from cerebrovascular disease was studied. Only in women was a slight tendency towards higher rates in rural areas found. There were only moderate correlations with the rates for ischaemic heart disease and no statistically significant correlations with the rates for diseases of peripheral vessels.

Cerebrovascular Disorders↗
PubMed1988

Gender differences in age at onset of schizophrenia. An overview.

We present the results of a review of the literature concerning gender differences in age at the onset of schizophrenia. In view of the very consistent finding that the first admission to hospital for schizophrenia occurs on average earlier in men than in women we examined the question whether this is due to the fact that the psychosis manifests itself earlier in men or that the period between first manifestation and admission to hospital is shorter than in women. By means of a metaanalytic approach we then looked for evidence for the existence of local or temporal variations in the degree of gender difference. Lastly, we dealt with the question whether gender differences in age of onset can be observed in other functional psychoses.

Age Factors↗