EFFECTS OF BRIEF PSYCHOSIS-BASED PSYCHOEDUCATION ON REDUCTION OF PUBLIC STIGMA ASSOCIATED WITH MENTAL ILL-HEALTH: A RANDOMISED CONTROLLED STUDY.

Abstract

Mental ill-health, particularly psychosis, is a debilitating, highly stigmatised difficulty. While there is an increasing incorporation of psychoeducation into stigma reduction interventions, much variability in its content and delivery exists within empirical discourse. The present study investigated the effectiveness of brief psychosis-based and recovery-focused psychoeducation in reducing public stigma towards persons with mental ill-health (PMIH) in Singapore. Participants (N = 133) were randomly assigned to a psychoeducational intervention group or active control group. Stigmatising attitudes towards PMIH were assessed using standardised self-report questionnaires at pre-intervention, post-intervention and one-month follow-up. Results demonstrated that psychoeducation significantly reduced stereotyping, prejudice and discrimination towards PMIH post-intervention for seven out of ten stigma-related subscales. The desired effects were maintained for the subscales of fear and dangerousness, and help and interact. There were no significant changes in negative emotions, and tolerance and support, from pre- to post-intervention. Attribution of responsibility significantly increased post-intervention, contrary to the hypothesised effect. The findings indicate overall support for psychoeducation in reducing public stigma, yet suggest its inadequacy when delivered only at the individual level in a collectivistic society. Additional research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of psychoeducation as a systemic intervention.