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Correction: Recognition of depression and psychosis by young Australians and their beliefs about treatment
Author(s) -
Wright Annemarie,
Harris Meredith G,
Wiggers John H,
Jorm Anthony F,
Cotton Sue M,
Harrigan Susy M,
Hurworth Rosalind E,
McGorry Patrick D
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
medical journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1326-5377
pISSN - 0025-729X
DOI - 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2005.tb06960.x
Subject(s) - wright , depression (economics) , psychosis , heading (navigation) , population , psychology , psychiatry , psychoanalysis , gerontology , medicine , history , art history , sociology , demography , geography , geodesy , economics , macroeconomics
OBJECTIVESTo assess young people's ability to recognise clinically defined depression and psychosis, the types of help they thought appropriate for these problems, their knowledge of appropriate treatments, and their perceptions regarding prognosis.DESIGNA cross-sectional telephone survey using structured interviews. Vignettes of a person with either depression or psychosis were presented, followed by questions related to recognition of the disorder, best forms of treatment and the prognosis.PARTICIPANTSA randomly selected sample of 1207 young people aged 12-25 years.SETTINGMelbourne, Victoria, and surrounding regional and rural areas.OUTCOME MEASURESResponses to a mental health literacy questionnaire.RESULTSAlmost half the respondents were able to identify depression correctly, whereas only a quarter identified psychosis correctly. Counsellors and family or friends were the most commonly cited forms of best help, with family or friends preferred by the younger age group for depression. General practitioners were considered more helpful for depression, and psychiatrists and psychologists more helpful for psychosis. Most respondents considered counselling and psychotherapy to be helpful. However, more than half the respondents expressed negative or equivocal views regarding the helpfulness of recommended pharmacological treatments.CONCLUSIONSThe limitations we identified in youth mental health literacy may contribute to the low rates of treatment and the long duration of untreated illness reported in other studies. There is a need for initiatives to enhance mental health literacy among young people, and those close to them, if benefits of early treatment are to be realised.