‘조현병-정신분열병’ 병명에 따른 낙인 비교

Comparison of Stigma according to the Term Used for Schizophrenia : Split-Mind Disorder vs. Attunement Disorder

ObjectivesZZIn Korea, the term for schizophrenia has been changed from ‘split-mind disorder’ to ‘attunement disorder’. This study compared the stigma of, and prejudice against, people with schi-zophrenia, according to use of the term ‘split-mind disorder’ or ‘attunement disorder’. MethodsZZWe conducted a survey of 360 college students majoring in nursing science in order to assess their prejudice regarding the danger posed by schizophrenia and discrimination re-garding relationships and privileges for patients with schizophrenia using the social stigma scale and the discrimination scale for patients with mental illness, respectively. Study subjects were ran-domly divided into two groups, and the same scales were assigned to each group using different instructions, beginning with either ‘split-mind disorder’ or ‘attunement disorder’. ResultsZZIn multivariate analysis, scores for prejudice with regard to the danger posed by, and discrimination against, patients with schizophrenia were significantly higher in the group assigned the term split-mind disorder, compared with the term attunement disorder. Scores for discriminat-ion with regard to relationships and privileges were significantly lower for subjects with experi-ence to contact the mentally ill, compared to those without such experience. ConclusionZZOur findings suggest that renaming split-mind disorder as attunement disorder can result in reduced prejudice and discrimination against people with schizophrenia. In addition to re-naming schizophrenia, implementation of anti-stigma campaigns, including contact with schizo-phrenia patients, may help to reduce discrimination against them.