[Opinions on psychiatric diseases of the citizens of Novosibirsk: results of a representative study].

Background: Citizens of Novosibirsk were questioned regarding their ideas about schizophrenia and depressive disorders, with one of the main concerns being a comparison with the ideas and attitudes of the German population.

Method: In 2002, a representative survey (N = 745) was conducted among the adult population of Novosibirsk, using a fully structured interview that has been used in previous surveys in Germany.

Results: Symptoms of schizophrenia were more frequently identified as an indication of mental disorder than were depressive symptoms.