Lay Perceptions of Mental Disorder in Agricultural Greece: A Qualitative Approach
| Published date | 01 January 2000 |
| Date | 01 January 2000 |
| Pages | 33-39 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/17465729200000007 |
| Author | Anastasia Zissi |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care |
International Journal of Mental Health Promotion VOLUME 2 ISSUE 1 • FEBRUARY2000 © Pavilion Publishing (Brighton) Limited. 33
Lay Perceptions of Mental
Disorder in Agricultural
Greece:
AQualitative Approach
Anastasia Zissi
Department of Philosophy
and Social Science,
University of Crete
FEATURE
This exploratory survey aimed to investigate
and to explore, using the vignette methodology,
community perceptions of mental disorder in a
rural area in Greece. The influence of the nature
of the problematic behaviour depicted in the
vignettes, the gender of the vignette actor and
the demographic characteristics of respondents
were also examined.
Aseries of vignettes in combination with an
open-ended response format were used. Fifty
face-to-face interviews were carried out with
residents in a rural community area in Crete.
Athematic analysis was employed.
It was found that the type of symptomatology
influenced respondents’ reactions. Social environ-
mental factors, childhood experiences and
personality characteristics were more likely to
be offered as ætiological factors for depression,
anxiety and schizophrenia with negative symp-
toms. In contrast, the positive symptoms of
schizophrenia and paranoia were more likely to
be attributed to biological factors. The respondents
expressed a remarkably reserved attitude towards
psychiatrists and use of psychotropic drugs.
Psychological assistance and social supportwere
morelikely to be recommended as treatment
methods. The gender of the vignette actor
influenced respondents’ reactions in relation
to schizophrenia with positive symptoms and
schizophrenia with negative symptoms.
Respondents’ gender and age were found to
have no influence.
Vignette methodology was proved to be a
valuable tool to demonstrate the complexity
of lay perceptions concerning mental disorder.
Respondents clearly expressed a need for mental
health education indicating future implications
for interventions in this area.
ABSTRACT Introduction
The recent major changes in the development of community-based
mental health facilities in Greece (Stefanis et al., 1987; Zissi &
Barry, 1997) highlight the need to determine Greek community per-
ceptions of mental disorder.The community acceptance of former
psychiatric patients is critical in the process of their successful rein-
tegration into the community (Aubryet al., 1995; Wolff et al., 1996).
In addition, examining public positions on mental health problems is
essential for understanding how people deal with difficulties of this
kind.
Despite the emphasis on the community approach to Greek
mental health service delivery, there are only a few Greek studies
exploring community
attitudes and beliefs about mental health difficulties. In the 1980s a
survey examined attitudes towards mental disorder in a sample of
1,574 community
residents of two boroughs in the greater Athens area (Madianos et
al., 1987). By employing the Opinion about Mental Illness Scale
(Cohen & Struening, 1962), the Greek researchers found that
‘older and less educated respondents raised in rural areas were
more rejecting, suspicious,
fearful, restrictive and authoritarian towards
the mentally ill’ (p163).
Astudy exploring the perceptions of mental disorder among rural
residents was conducted in Ireland (Barry & Greene, 1992; Barry,
1994). The Irish study examined, through the vignette method, the
structure and determinants of implicit lay beliefs on the interpreta-
tion, explanation and treatment of a range
of psychological problems. It was found that Irish respondents did
not hold a general model of mental disorder, but differentiated their
responses according to the type of psychological problem; the more
visible and florid symptoms (schizophrenia with positive symptoms
and paranoia) were more likely to elicit more powerful reactions
than symptoms of anxiety,phobia and schizophrenia with negative
symptoms.
Anumber of researchers concerned with methodological issues
in the assessment of community attitudes towards people with
mental health problems have indicated thatthe majority of studies
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