Results of our studies

IN BRIEF

According to respondents, most of Russians feel sympathy and pity towards persons with mental disorders. However more than one-third of respondents consider that people with schizophrenia should be kept away from other people.

MOSCOW, June 4, 2019. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the findings of a survey devoted to mental disorders and schizophrenia conducted in partnership with Gedeon Richter.

Russians know well what schizophrenia is: 20% say that they are well aware of the symptoms; a further 70% know about the disease in general. Every fifth respondent knows if there is someone with schizophrenia in the close circle (20%): 4% say they have relatives with schizophrenia; 16% know personally someone who has schizophrenia.

Most of Russians feel sympathy (38%) and pity (34%) towards people with schizophrenia; they are predominantly respondents aged 60 and over (48% and 39%, respectively). At the same time, every fourth respondent (26%) says that many Russians are afraid of people with mental disorders; every fifth (18%) mentions “distrust” towards them. Nine percent of respondents say people tend to feel contempt towards those who are mentally ill. The key problems people with mental disorders face are as follows: employment difficulties (40%), poor supply of necessary medicines (33%), lack of skills among healthcare workers (31%), and negative public attitudes (31%). Those respondents who have relatives with schizophrenia think that difficulties getting medicines are the major problem (45%).

The survey suggests that the typical signs of schizophrenia are extreme mood swings (29%), split mind (27%) and hallucinations (17%) (only people who are aware of the disease were asked). However, schizophrenic patients are seen ambiguously: on the one hand, they are perceived rather negatively, on the other hand, they are seen as vulnerable persons lacking attention. Most of those respondents are aware of the disease view the patients as “unstable” (34%), “dangerous” (28%), “vulnerable” (24%) and “suspicious” (23%).

As to those respondents who have heard and are aware of schizophrenia, the majority thinks that patients should constantly take their prescribed medications (79%) and are not capable of controlling their disease (63%); this stance is shared by 70% of patients’ relatives. At the same time, every second respondent believes that the likelihood of getting schizophrenia is higher if a close relative has had the illness (49%).

Thirty-eight percent of respondents consider that people with schizophrenia should be kept away from people (only the informed persons were asked). Those who are less likely to share this stance are people whose relatives or friends have schizophrenia (31%), as well as those who are confident that patients are capable of controlling their illness (21%).

Asked why people who have a relative or friend  with the signs of schizophrenia do not try to get psychiatric help, 38% say that they do not want it to be made public after the visit to the doctor. A further 29% think that people are afraid that their relative with schizophrenia will be put to the hospital. Other obstacles include distrust towards doctors and lack of confidence that medicine can cure the disease (20%, for each).

VCIOM-Sputnik survey was conducted in November 2018 and commissioned by Gedeon Richter. The survey involved 1,600 Russians aged 18 and over. The survey was telephone-based and was carried out using stratified dual-frame random sample based on a complete list of landline and mobile phone numbers operating in Russia. The data were weighted according to selection probability and social and demographic characteristics. The margin of error at a 95% confidence level does not exceed 2.5%. In addition to sampling error, minor changes in question wording and different circumstances arising during the fieldwork can introduce bias into the survey.

 

Do you know/ have you heard of schizophrenia?   

 (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents)

 

Total respondents 

I am well aware of the symptoms

20

90

I know in general

70

This is the first time I hear about that

8

Don’t know

2

Sometimes we may encounter people with different mental diseases.  Speaking about your relatives, friends, acquaintances do you know anyone who was diagnosed with schizophrenia?

(closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents)

Only those who are aware of schizophrenia were asked

 

% of total respondents

Yes, one of my relatives has schizophrenia; I take care of him/her

1

4

Yes, one of my relatives has schizophrenia

3

Yes, one of my friends has schizophrenia

8

16

Yes, my friends have friends/relatives who were diagnosed with schizophrenia

8

I do not know anyone  diagnosed with schizophrenia

69

Don’t know

1

Question was not asked, as disease is not known

10

In your opinion, how do most of people in Russia treat people with mental disorders?

 (closed-ended question, up to 2 answers, % of total respondents)

 

Total respondents 

Aged 18-24

25-34

35-44

45-59

60 and over

Sympathy

38

27

29

32

42

48

Pity

34

34

31

29

35

39

Fear

26

34

32

32

24

17

Distrust

18

21

24

20

21

10

Contempt

9

19

16

11

5

5

Confusion

8

5

12

8

9

5

Hatred

4

11

5

5

2

2

Interest

3

9

2

2

2

2

Liking

1

4

0

1

1

2

No special feelings

1

0

1

2

0

1

Other  

5

3

6

5

5

4

Don’t know

5

5

3

6

3

6

In your opinion, what are the major problems people with mental disorders face?

(closed-ended question, up to 3 answers, % of total respondents)

 

Total respondents 

Those who have relatives with schizophrenia 

Who have friends  with schizophrenia 

Who has no one with schizophrenia 

Getting a job    

40

34

45

41

Supply of medicines

33

45

36

34

Lack of skills among healthcare workers

31

33

32

32

Negative public attitudes

31

34

37

30

Lack of medical equipment

21

24

20

23

Problems getting education

17

15

19

18

Restrictions in leisure choices 

9

11

5

10

Other  

4

5

5

4

Don’t know

13

7

8

12

In your opinion, what signs does a person with schizophrenia show?

 (closed-ended question, one answer, % of those who aware of schizophrenia)

Only those who are aware of schizophrenia were asked

 

% of those who aware of schizophrenia

Extreme mood swings

29

Split mind

27

Hallucinations

17

Low intelligence

5

None of the above-mentioned

5

Other  

2

Don’t know

15

Which adjectives would best describe a person with schizophrenia?

 (closed-ended question, up to 3 answers, % of those who aware of schizophrenia)

Only those who are aware of schizophrenia were asked

 

% of those who aware of schizophrenia

Unstable  

34

Dangerous

28

Vulnerable

24

Suspicious

23

Creative

19

Sly

15

Sensitive

15

Indifferent

8

Energetic

7

Sociable

5

Lazy

4

None of the above-mentioned

2

Other  

5

Don’t know

13

To what extent do you agree with the following statements?

 (closed-ended question, one answer per line, % of those who aware of schizophrenia)

Only those who are aware of schizophrenia were asked

 

Fully agree

Rather agree

Rather disagree

Fully disagree

Don’t know

People diagnosed with schizophrenia should be kept away from people

12

26

39

13

10

38

Person diagnosed with schizophrenia  should regularly take medicines

48

31

8

2

11

79

People are more likely to become schizophrenic if someone in their  family has had schizophrenia 

14

35

24

13

14

49

People with schizophrenia   are not capable of controlling their disease

29

34

19

6

12

63

In your opinion, why do the members of family /friends prefer not to take the person with signs of schizophrenia to the  psychiatrist, and they treat him/her on their own instead? (closed-ended question, up to 2 answers, % of those who aware of schizophrenia) Only those who are aware of schizophrenia were asked

 

% of those who aware of schizophrenia

They are afraid that their friends will find out about it

38

They are afraid  that this person will be put to hospital

29

They do not believe that conventional medicine is capable of treating the disease

20

They do not trust psychiatrists

20

They do not want to spend too much money on treatment 

16

They are afraid that they will have to get through examination themselves 

13

They do not believe that schizophrenia exists

4

Most of relatives go to psychiatrist

1

Other  

4

Don’t know

11

 

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