Public vs. professional conceptions of schizophrenia

The beliefs of several lay groups about the symptoms, causes, and treatments of schizophrenia were examined and compared with those of mental health professionals. Lay groups were similar to one another in viewing schizophrenia as being characterized by emotional symptoms, psychosocial causes, and psychosocial treatments. Professionals, on the other hand, tended to stress cognitive symptoms, biological/hereditary origins, and pharmacological treatment. It is suggested that there exist common misconceptions about schizophrenia that need to be better addressed by mental health educators.