Attitudes of the general population concerning schizophrenia

In this paper results of a study concerning the attitudes of the general population and specific professions towards schizophrenia and towards people suffering on schizophrenia are presented. In detail the willingness to contact people suffering on schizophrenia is examined. Results show, that the austrians mostly reject contacts with such people, especially in the immediate personal vicinity. The willingness to contact depends beside sociodemographic characteristics above all on the perception of causes of schizophrenia, on th perceived success of treatment and especially on the perceived dangerousness. Research agende has to be focused on the process, that people associate schizophrenia with violence, danger and threat.