Lay Theories of Bipolar Disorder: the Causes, Manifestations and Cures for Perceived Bipolar Disorder

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate lay theories of the cause and treatment of bipolar disorder, and the recognition of its symptoms. This questionnaire-based study included vignette descriptions of mental disorders and 70 items relating to bipolar disorder. It was completed by 173 participants. Bipolar disorder was recognized less than depression but at the same rate as schizophrenia. Contrary to previous research, analysis showed that lay beliefs of the causes of bipolar disorder generally concur with scientific academic theories. Drug treatment was favoured as a cure rather than psychotherapy. Theories of cause and treatment were logically correlated. Overall, the results suggest that lay people have reasonably informed beliefs about the causes and treatments of bipolar disorder, however recognition of the symptoms is poor.

Mental health literacy: Public knowledge and beliefs about mental disorders in mainland China

“…A questionnaire was designed that contained nine vignettes describing different cases of people with problems, seven of which were mental disorders meeting the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) and International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-10 criteria. The vignette problems included schizophrenia (adapted from Jorm et al, 2005a), OCD, social phobia (adapted from Jorm, Wright, & Morgan, 2007), depression (adapted from Jorm et al, 2005a), bipolar disorder (adapted from Furnham & Anthony, 2010), stress (adapted from ), child ADHD, child depression, and child daily troubles (adapted from Pescosolido et al, 2008). The vignettes were presented in the order mentioned.…”

Lay Theories of Gender Identity Disorder

“…Indeed, the study of beliefs about psychiatric phenomena from a lay perspective has a long and rich history, and is now often called psychiatric or “mental health literacy.” Jorm (2000), who has done much important work in this area, has shown it to be important because it relates to sensible help-seeking behavior and the stigmatization of the mentally ill. This study is also one of a series of studies in the mental health literacy tradition looking at lay theories of specific mental illness of which the latest was psychopathy (Furnham, Daoud, & Swami, 2009) and bipolar disorder (Furnham & Anthony, 2010). …”

Lay Theories and Attitudes About Psychopathy

“…In terms of the literature regarding other mental disorders, laypeople consistently display misconceptions and misunderstandings (e.g., Furnham & Anthony, 2010;Martin, Pescosolido, & Tuch, 2000). There are only a few recent studies to examine laypeople's understanding of psychopathy, with one revealing that laypeople confuse psychopathy with psychosis and endorse foil traits for psychopathy (traits that are generally inversely related to traits that researchers typically associate with psychopathy; .…”

“…Data from the World Health Organization state that mental illness is commonly occurring and seriously impairing worldwide (Kessler et al, 2009). However, laypeople regularly support misconceptions about an array of mental disorders (Dahlberg, Waern, & Runeson, 2008;Furnham & Anthony, 2010;Jorm, 2000;Link, Phelan, Bresnahan, Stueve, & Pescosolido, 1999). These misconceptions produce a considerable amount of problematic stigma and a reluctance to seek treatment by those with mental disorders (Jorm et al, 1997).…”

“…One of the most replicated findings with laypeople's understanding of mental disorders is that of recognition. When presented with vignettes of mental disorders such as depression and psychosis and asked to diagnose the individuals described, laypeople are often unable to identify the disorders correctly (Furnham & Anthony, 2010;Jorm, Nakane, Christensen, Yoshioka, Griffiths, & Wata, 2005). These findings have been shown cross-culturally; for example in Japan and Sweden, 50% or more individuals were unable to identify a common disorder such as depression (Dahlberg et al, 2008;Jorm et al, 2005).…”