My SciELO
Services on Demand
Journal
Article
Indicators
Cited by SciELO
Access statistics
Related links
Cited by Google
Similars in SciELO
Similars in Google
Share
Revista de la Asociación Española de Neuropsiquiatría
On-line version ISSN 2340-2733Print version ISSN 0211-5735
Abstract
PEREZ ALVAREZ, Candela et al. Schizophrenia in the press: does social stigma continue?. Rev. Asoc. Esp. Neuropsiq. [online]. 2015, vol.35, n.128, pp.721-730. ISSN 2340-2733. https://dx.doi.org/10.4321/S0211-57352015000400002.
Introduction: mass media is a major source of information about mental health and its attitude can be a determinant for stigmatization. The objective of this study was to examine the use of the term "schizophrenia" in print media. Methods: A search of posted news including the word "schizophrenia" was done through digital finders of six Spanish newspapers. Articles where the term "schizophrenia" had a metaphoric use were separated. Articles referred to the disorder were divided in five groups according to their content. Articles related to criminal acts were analyzed more deeply. Results: 497 articles were examined. In 126 (25,4%) the use of "schizophrenia" was metaphoric. From the remaining (371), 143 (38,5%) were about criminal acts, 105 (28,3%) about science popularization, 40 (10,8%) mentioned people with schizophrenia, 37 (10%) were about lack of health resources and stigma, 46 (12,4%) about other issues. In news about criminal acts, people with schizophrenia were victims in 16,1% and offenders in 83,9%, and stigmatizing expressions were used with relative frequency. Conclusions: The press tends to show disproportionately negative stories about people who suffer from schizophrenia. Furthermore, the word "schizophrenia" is used in a denigrating manner quite often, contributing to stigma around the term.
Keywords : schizophrenia; newspapers; mental health; social stigma; mass media; stereotyping; violence.