Effects of Renaming Schizophrenia in Korea: from “Split-Mind Disorder” to “Attunement Disorder”

OBJECTIVE: Korean Neuropsychiatric Association changed the Korean name of schizophrenia from ‘Split-mind Disorder’ to ‘Attunement Disorder’ in 2012. This study assessed attitudes towards the renaming of schizophrenia among mental health practitioners (n=440), patients with schizophrenia and their guardians (n=396), and the university students (n=140) using self-administered questionnaires. METHODS: The questionnaire included items related to participants’ perception of the renaming of the disease, the nature of informing about the disease to confirm the effect of the name change. RESULTS: It was confirmed the notification rate of disease name by mental health practitioners was increased significantly after the renaming. Among patients and their guardians, 24.9% and 15.0%, respectively, perceived their own or the family member’s illness as ‘attunement disorder’. CONCLUSION: Patients and their guardians continue to display a low awareness about the name of the disease as ‘attunement disorder.’ However, mental health practitioners were found to be able to easily use the name ‘attunement disorder’ as a result of the increased notification rate of the new disease name.

Web-Based Survey of University Students and Faculty Members on Renaming of Psychiatry / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES: Psychiatric patients had less access to psychiatric care due to a stigma associated with psychiatric care. However there have been numerous efforts to break down the stigma. One of them was to change the name of the discipline to Mental Health Medicine, which was established nationwide in August, 2011. Authors try to understand the change of concepts by according to the change of the name of psychiatry. Subjects consisted of undergraduate and graduate students, and university faculty members. METHODS: The survey was conducted by the Kyung Hee University mass e-mail system. Mails were delivered to the undergraduate and graduate students, and university faculty members. The contents of the survey consisted of questions regarding awareness of the name change (psychiatry-->mental health medicine), positive or negative impressions of the name change, psychiatric history, and eligibility of access to the psychiatric clinic. RESULTS: Most respondents were not aware of the name change (90.8%), however they generally responded to the changed name positively (92.7%). Also they responded that by changing the name, the possibility of the easy access to psychiatric treatment would be expected. The undergraduate students group, the graduate students group, and the below 22 year old group responded more favorably to the name change compared to the faculty group and the above 22-year-old group. They also responded positively to the improvement of easy access to psychiatric treatment. However, regarding the effects of the name change on deciding to receive the psychiatric treatment, only small numbers were agreed to accept treatment. CONCLUSION: This survey showed that the less-than-22-year-old group, undergraduate students group, and graduate students group thought more positively to the name change (psychiatry->mental health medicine) compared to the group of more than the 22 years old and the faculty group. However, only small numbers of those groups answered that they can visit and receive psychiatric treatment when they are needed. One of the reasons they are reluctant to receive psychiatric care is due to the concern of the discrimination in employment and insurance coverage. Campaigns against stigmas for the psychiatric care via the proper method and time are needed nationwide, and should be enhanced. Practical policy should be re-established.

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

OBJECTIVES: In 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 schizophrenia, according to use of the term 'split-mind disorder' or 'attunement disorder'. METHODS: We 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 regarding 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 randomly 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'. RESULTS: In 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 discrimination with regard to relationships and privileges were significantly lower for subjects with experience to contact the mentally ill, compared to those without such experience. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that renaming split-mind disorder as attunement disorder can result in reduced prejudice and discrimination against people with schizophrenia. In addition to renaming schizophrenia, implementation of anti-stigma campaigns, including contact with schizophrenia patients, may help to reduce discrimination against them.