The public debate on psychotropic medication and changes in attitudes 1990-2011
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The public debate on psychotropic medication and changes in attitudes 1990-2011. / Angermeyer, Matthias C; Van der Auwera, Sandra; Matschinger, Herbert; Carta, Mauro G; Baumeister, Sebastian E; Schomerus, Georg.
in: EUR ARCH PSY CLIN N, Jahrgang 266, Nr. 2, 03.2016, S. 165-72.Publikationen: SCORING: Beitrag in Fachzeitschrift/Zeitung › SCORING: Zeitschriftenaufsatz › Forschung › Begutachtung
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TY - JOUR
T1 - The public debate on psychotropic medication and changes in attitudes 1990-2011
AU - Angermeyer, Matthias C
AU - Van der Auwera, Sandra
AU - Matschinger, Herbert
AU - Carta, Mauro G
AU - Baumeister, Sebastian E
AU - Schomerus, Georg
PY - 2016/3
Y1 - 2016/3
N2 - Over the last 25 years, the appraisal of psychotropic drugs within the scientific community and their representation in the media has changed considerably. The initial optimism in the wake of the introduction of second-generation drugs has increasingly made room for a more critical evaluation of alleged advantages of these drugs. The question arises as to what extent this is reflected in similar changes in the public's attitudes towards psychiatric medication. Three representative population surveys on attitudes towards psychotropic medication were carried out in Germany in 1990 (N = 3075), 2001 (N = 2610) and 2011 (N = 1223), using the same sampling procedure, interview mode and instrument for assessing attitudes. In order to disentangle time-related effects, an age-period-cohort analysis was performed. Over the time period of 21 years, the German public's evaluation of psychotropic medication has become markedly more favourable. This change was mostly due to a period effect, i.e. concurrent influences of the social environment people are exposed to. Changes were much more pronounced in the 1990s, while over the following decade only a small, although statistically significant, increase in the favourable appraisal of medication was found. Age and birth cohort had only a minor effect on public attitudes. Our findings suggest that changes in the evaluation of the effects of psychotropic drugs within the psychiatric community and their representation in the media also affect public opinion. Given the ongoing debate about side effects and efficacy of psychiatric medication, future changes of public opinion can be expected.
AB - Over the last 25 years, the appraisal of psychotropic drugs within the scientific community and their representation in the media has changed considerably. The initial optimism in the wake of the introduction of second-generation drugs has increasingly made room for a more critical evaluation of alleged advantages of these drugs. The question arises as to what extent this is reflected in similar changes in the public's attitudes towards psychiatric medication. Three representative population surveys on attitudes towards psychotropic medication were carried out in Germany in 1990 (N = 3075), 2001 (N = 2610) and 2011 (N = 1223), using the same sampling procedure, interview mode and instrument for assessing attitudes. In order to disentangle time-related effects, an age-period-cohort analysis was performed. Over the time period of 21 years, the German public's evaluation of psychotropic medication has become markedly more favourable. This change was mostly due to a period effect, i.e. concurrent influences of the social environment people are exposed to. Changes were much more pronounced in the 1990s, while over the following decade only a small, although statistically significant, increase in the favourable appraisal of medication was found. Age and birth cohort had only a minor effect on public attitudes. Our findings suggest that changes in the evaluation of the effects of psychotropic drugs within the psychiatric community and their representation in the media also affect public opinion. Given the ongoing debate about side effects and efficacy of psychiatric medication, future changes of public opinion can be expected.
KW - Adolescent
KW - Adult
KW - Aged
KW - Aged, 80 and over
KW - Attitude
KW - Cohort Studies
KW - Female
KW - Germany
KW - Health Surveys
KW - Humans
KW - Male
KW - Mental Disorders
KW - Middle Aged
KW - Personality
KW - Psychotropic Drugs
KW - Public Opinion
KW - Regression Analysis
KW - Young Adult
KW - Journal Article
KW - Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
U2 - 10.1007/s00406-015-0660-7
DO - 10.1007/s00406-015-0660-7
M3 - SCORING: Journal article
C2 - 26615405
VL - 266
SP - 165
EP - 172
JO - EUR ARCH PSY CLIN N
JF - EUR ARCH PSY CLIN N
SN - 0940-1334
IS - 2
ER -