Multinational comparative cross-sectional survey of views of medical students about acceptable terminology and subgroups in schizophrenia.

Aim: The aim of this study was to inform thinking around the terminology for 'schizophrenia' in different countries.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to investigate: (1) whether medical students view alternative terminology (psychosis subgroups), derived from vulnerability-stress models of schizophrenia, as acceptable and less stigmatising than the term schizophrenia; (2) if there are differences in attitudes to the different terminology across countries with different cultures and (3) whether clinical training has an impact in reducing stigma.

Design: This is a cross-sectional survey that examined the attitudes of medical students towards schizophrenia and the alternative subgroups.