The impact of a TV report in schizophrenia stigma reduction: A quasi-experimental study

Abstract

Background:

Stigma is a major problem in schizophrenia, and the most effective way to reduce it is to provide information. But literature lacks studies evaluating long-term efficacy of mass communication.

Aims:

This is a pilot study to assess if a brief intervention (TV report) may have long-term effects.

Method:

Assessing stigma scores from subjects before and after seeing a vignette.

Results:

We found that the social distance and restriction to patients not only fell after a brief intervention but also kept lower after 1 and 3 months.

Conclusion:

We conclude that even brief intervention may create persistent impact in reducing discrimination.