'Mental illness is an illness like any other'. Is it though?

The 'mental illness is an illness like any other' dogma, supported by biological psychiatry and the drug industry, has been at the heart of many failed destigmatisation programmesThis paper will summarise the research... [ view full abstract ]

The 'mental illness is an illness like any other' dogma, supported by biological psychiatry and the drug industry, has been at the heart of many failed destigmatisation programmes

This paper will summarise the research demonstrating the role of bio-medical causal explanations, and diagnostic labelling, in the maintenance of negative stereotypes of people who experience psychosis, including dangerousness and pessimism about recovery. 

Possible ways to produce real change in this field will be presented.

MAGLIANO, L., READ, J., RINALDI, A., COSTANZO, R., DE LEO, R., SCHIOPPA, G., PETRILLO, M., ZACCARO, A., CAMPITIELLO, F. (2016). The influence of causal explanations and diagnostic labelling on psychology students’ beliefs about treatments, prognosis, dangerousness and unpredictability in schizophrenia. Community Mental Health Journal 52, 361-369. 

READ, J., HASLAM, N., SAYCE, L., DAVIES, E. (2006). Prejudice and schizophrenia: A review of the ‘Mental illness is an Illness like any other’ approach. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 114, 303-318.