Community and Health Professionals’ Attitude Toward Depression: a Pilot Study in Nine Eaad Countries

Gert Scheerder, Chantal Van Audenhove, Ella Arensman, Barbara Bernik, Giancarlo Giupponi, Anne-Claire Horel, Margaret Maxwell, Merike Sisask, Andras Szekely, Airi Värnik and Ulrich Hegerl
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Gert Scheerder: Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium, gert.scheerder@med.kuleuven.be
Chantal Van Audenhove: LUCAS, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium
Ella Arensman: National Suicide Research Foundation, Cork, Ireland
Barbara Bernik: Institute of Public Health of the Republic of Slovenia, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Giancarlo Giupponi: San Maurizio Hospital, Bolzano, Italy
Anne-Claire Horel: Centre Hospitalier René Dubos, Cergy-Pontoise Cedex, France
Margaret Maxwell: Department of Applied Social Science, University of Stirling, Scotland, UK
Merike Sisask: Estonian-Swedish Mental Health and Suicidology Institute, Tallinn, Estonia
Andras Szekely: Institute of Behavioural Sciences, Semmelweis University Budapest, Hungary
Airi Värnik: Estonian-Swedish Mental Health and Suicidology Institute and Tallinn University, Tallinn, Estonia
Ulrich Hegerl: Klinik und Poliklinik für Psychiatrie, Universität Leipzig, Germany

International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 2011, vol. 57, issue 4, 387-401

Abstract: Background: Community facilitators (CFs), such as pharmacists, policemen, teachers and clergy, may be an important community resource for patients with depression in addition to (mental) health professionals. However, they are ill prepared for such a role and little is known about their attitudes toward depression, which may affect practice. Aim: To investigate CFs’ attitudes toward depression and compare them to those of (mental) health professionals and nurses. Method: Attitudes were assessed in participants ( n = 2,670) of training programmes about depression in nine countries of the European Alliance Against Depression (EAAD). The EAAD questionnaire included attitudes toward depression and its treatment, perceived causes, preferred treatment options, and knowledge of depression symptoms. Results: CFs and nurses had a more negative attitude toward patients with depression and toward antidepressants, and more limited knowledge of depression symptoms than (mental) health professionals. CFs more frequently supported non-standard treatment for depression. Nurse assistants clearly differed from registered nurses with their attitudes being among the least favourable and their knowledge the most limited of all groups. Conclusions: CFs and nurses had less favourable attitudes and more limited knowledge regarding depression when compared to mental health professionals and doctors. This may negatively affect professional collaboration, challenge optimal treatment and stigmatize patients. CFs’ and nurses’ knowledge and attitudes may be similar to those of the general population and be related to a lack of training in mental health issues.

Keywords: depression; attitude; community facilitators; nurses; mental health professionals (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2011
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:socpsy:v:57:y:2011:i:4:p:387-401

DOI: 10.1177/0020764009359742

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