Knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours towards schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, autism, and epilepsy in Ireland: a national survey

OBJECTIVES: Stigma towards individuals with mental, neurodevelopmental, and neurological conditions is associated with problems accessing healthcare (e.g. schizophrenia) and gaining employment (e.g. epilepsy). In Ireland, stigma differs towards different conditions, with previous research showing that schizophrenia is viewed more negatively than bipolar disorder or autism. More detailed understanding of stigma in Ireland requires replication of these findings in a larger, population-representative sample. METHODS: 1,232 participants around Ireland completed a survey examining knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours towards schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, autism, and epilepsy as a comparator. Knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours towards these groups were compared using cumulative link mixed models. RESULTS: Perception of others' stigma and participants' own self-reported behaviour were more negative towards schizophrenia compared to any of the other groups. Familiarity with mental health issues was associated with more positive self-reported behaviour towards those with schizophrenia. This improvement in behaviour was mediated by reduced perception of danger of this group. In contrast, greater mental health knowledge had no such impact on behaviour. Bipolar disorder was the second-most negatively perceived condition, followed by autism and epilepsy. CONCLUSIONS: These findings support our recent pilot study and provide further evidence that stigma differs towards different conditions in Ireland, with Irish people perceiving more negative societal attitudes, and self-reporting more negative behaviour, towards schizophrenia. The finding that familiarity with schizophrenia predicted more positive behaviour and that this was mediated by reduced perception of danger suggests targets for future anti-stigma interventions.