Correct recognition and continuum belief of mental disorders in a nursing student population

Abstract

BackgroundThe current study aimed to explore the correct recognition of mental disorders across dementia, alcohol abuse, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), schizophrenia and depression, along with its correlates in a nursing student population. The belief in a continuum of symptoms from mental health to mental illness and its relationship with the non-identification of mental illness was also explored.MethodsFive hundred students from four nursing institutions in Singapore participated in this cross-sectional online study. Respondents were randomly assigned to a vignette describing one of the five mental disorders before being asked to identify what the person in the vignette is suffering from. Continuum belief was assessed by rating their agreeableness with the following statement: “Sometimes we all behave like X. It is just a question of how severe or obvious this condition is”.ResultsOCD had the highest correct recognition rate (86%), followed by depression (85%), dementia (77%), alcohol abuse (58%) and schizophrenia (46%). For continuum belief, the percentage of respondents who endorsed symptom continuity were 70% for depression, 61% for OCD, 58% for alcohol abuse, 56% for dementia and 46% for schizophrenia. Of concern, we found stronger continuum belief to be associated with the non-identification of mental illness after controlling for covariates.ConclusionsThere is a need to improve mental health literacy among nursing students. Almost a quarter of the respondents identified excessive alcohol drinking as depression, even though there was no indication of any mood symptom in the vignette on alcohol abuse. Further education and training in schizophrenia may need to be conducted. Healthcare trainees should also be made aware on the possible influence of belief in symptom continuity on one’s tendency to under-attribute mental health symptoms as a mental illness.

Recognition of mental disorders: findings from a cross-sectional study among medical students in Singapore

“…Regression analysis further substantiated this where compared with depression, medical students were significantly less likely to correctly recognise dementia (P=0.009) and schizophrenia (P<0.001). The latter corroborates findings of other local mental health literacy studies among the general population 12 and nursing students 25 in Singapore, which also found recognition was poorest for schizophrenia in comparison to the other four disorders. Mental health literacy studies elsewhere have also found schizophrenia to be more poorly recognised compared with depression.…”

“…In comparison to other local studies, recognition was considerably higher than that of the general Singapore population (43.7%) 12 and slightly higher than that of a nursing student sample (70.4%). 25 …”

Help‐seeking beliefs for mental disorders among medical and nursing students

“…(Reavley, McCann, & Jorm, 2012). This student population is better educated in mental health-related issues, not just in terms of education level but also because their chosen course is nursing/medicine, and therefore it is expected that they would be able to better recognize mental disorders, compared to the general population Seow et al, 2017).…”

Impact of adult weight management interventions on mental health: a systematic review and meta-analysis protocol

“…Research investigating the relationship between obesity and mental health is increasingly considering mental health as a symptom continuum. The symptom continuum appreciates that individuals can experience one or more symptoms of mental illness without meeting diagnostic criteria for mental illness 18 19. Considering mental health as a continuum is associated with reduced stigma and improved attitudes towards mental health, highlighting the benefits of broadening the definition of mental health 19 20.…”