Evolution of public beliefs about schizophrenia and attitudes towards those afflicted in Austria over two decades.

Purpose: In the recent years, it was possible to observe two trends: First, there has been a trend to greater mental health literacy, in particular towards a biological model of schizophrenia. Secondly, an increase in public acceptance of professional help and psychiatric treatment has been observed in western countries. This indicates that the societal idea about mental illness and how it can be treated has changed.

["Schizophrenia has many faces" - evaluation of the Austrian Anti-Stigma-Campaign 2000-2002].

Objective: In order to evaluate the effectiveness of the WPA campaign "Open the Doors - against Stigma and Discrimination because of Schizophrenia", five years upon completion of the campaign, a comparative study was performed to assess the possible changes in the general public's attitudes towards schizophrenia.

Methods: Representative population survey, based on a Quota-sampling (n = 988); face-to-face interviews with standardized questionnaires.

Results: The results of this study were somewhat sobering, with 22.

[Deinstitutionalization of long-stay psychiatric patients in upper Austria -- utilization of healthcare resources and costs of outpatient care].

Objective: The study was intended to evaluate the therapeutic and healthcare services utilized by 116 former long-stay patients after an average of 42.9 months of deinstitutionalization during a follow-up time of (1/2) year and to calculate the costs thus incurred.

Methods: 116 patients and their caregivers were interviewed during a period of 6 months using the German version of the Client Sociodemographic and Service Receipt Inventory.

[Needs for care of former long-stay-patients living outside of the psychiatric hospital].

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the needs for care of 116 former long-stay patients during the first 42.9 months after discharge.

Method: Patients and mental health professionals rated needs using the "Berliner Bedürfnisinventar" (Berlin Needs for Care Inventory).

[Deinstitutionalization of long-stay psychiatric patients in upper austria - living situation, social and clinical characteristics more than one year after discharge].

Objective: In Upper Austria, a total of 409 long-stay patients were discharged to various residential facilities between 1995 and 2000. This paper describes psychopathology and sociodemographic characteristics.

Methods: A random sample of 116 former long-stay patients were followed for an average 42.