Public knowledge, beliefs and attitudes towards patients with schizophrenia: Buenos Aires.

Objective: The purpose of our study was to assess the knowledge, social distance and perception of social discrimination towards persons with schizophrenia in the general adult population of Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Methods: One thousand two-hundred fifty-four persons were surveyed at different neighborhoods of the city of Buenos Aires. Their knowledge about schizophrenia, personal social distance and perception of social discrimination were assessed with several questions. Afterwards, a scale for each one of these measures was built.

Results: Almost half of the general population believed that patients with schizophrenia suffer from split personality and that most of them are dangerous and violent. Knowledge about schizophrenia in the general population was moderate and it was associated with age and education. Almost 80% of the population had less than one-third of the maximum possible social distance score, but their perception of social discrimination was high. Social distance was greater in the elderly. Knowledge was correlated weakly with social distance. Respondents directly related with patients suffering from schizophrenia were more knowledgeable about the illness, but had the same social distance and perception of social discrimination than the rest of the general population.

Conclusions: The persons surveyed felt their own attitudes are more favorable to people with schizophrenia than 'most other people's' attitudes. The elderly should be specifically addressed in specially designed anti-stigma campaigns.