(November 20, 2018) Latino caregivers of relatives experiencing first-episode psychosis (FEP) have low understanding of symptoms of serious mental illness and mental health literacy, according to new research. This has significant negative consequences on whether they seek treatment for their loved ones at a time when early intervention is crucial.
Mental health literacy, originally defined as “knowledge and beliefs about mental disorders which aid their recognition, management, or prevention” and now expanded to include an understanding of treatment, stigma, and help-seeking, is a critical part of creating a world in which individuals with serious mental illness can survive and thrive. 
Noting the failure of prior research to address the mental health literacy of individuals in the mental health care system, especially in racial-ethnic minorities, Dr. Steven R. López, PhD, of the University of Southern California and fellow researchers sought to capture the gaps in knowledge of Latino mental health consumers and their caregivers. By identifying areas for improvement, public health efforts can address population-specific needs and increase the likelihood that individuals experiencing mental illness and their families will seek professional help.
Latino caregivers of loved ones experiencing their first-episode of psychosis were interviewed after viewing a short video depicting a woman, “Olga,” exhibiting psychotic symptoms including delusions, disorganized speech, and hallucinations. Interview questions included the following:
- “What is happening to Olga? Why do you think so?”
- “Does Olga have a serious mental illness?
- “What should Olga’s parents do to help her?
- “What are the signs or symptoms of a serious mental illness?”
Researchers provided participants with a broad range of opportunities to display knowledge and attribute illness to observed behaviors. Participants could either report troubling symptoms using common or clinical terms (“hearing voices” vs. “hallucinations”) or suggest a medical diagnosis (psychosis or schizophrenia). By allowing participants to report observed symptoms of serious mental illness to show their understanding, researchers gathered insights that may have gone unheard among participants with limited medical vocabularies; a consideration particularly relevant when conducting research among minority populations.
Caregivers were more likely to note the presence of illness in the video by identifying symptoms rather than offering a specific diagnosis. Nearly half (49%) of caregivers were able to identify at least one symptom of psychosis observed in the video. Only 9% specifically mentioned psychosis or schizophrenia. When asked directly whether the person in the video had a serious mental illness, 65% of caregivers stated the character indeed had a serious mental illness.
However, in terms of general knowledge of psychosis and mental illness apart from the study video, just 28% of caregivers said delusions are a symptom of serious mental illness, and only 36% mentioned disorganized speech. Caregivers were most likely to suggest hallucinations as symptomatic of serious mental illness at 67%.
Participants with greater general knowledge of mental illness were more likely to attribute concerning behaviors in the video to serious mental illness. Participants with greater general knowledge of psychosis and mental illness, as well as the ability to attribute a serious mental illness to observed behaviors, were more likely to recommend professional help.
These findings suggest targeted public health campaigns might be an effective way to improve a population’s mental health literacy and increase professional treatment-seeking. Identifying symptoms of mental illness represented a significant gap in study subjects’ knowledge. As a result, public health efforts should focus on educating individuals about mental illness and the symptoms that could signal its onset, according to the authors. Outreach should also build on the statistically significant findings regarding the relationship between identifying mental illness and help-seeking by emphasizing that individuals exhibiting psychotic symptoms require professional care.
Culture, family, and community have a role in influencing how mental illness is experienced and whether treatment is sought. Thoughtful, population-specific research is critical in ensuring that all individuals have access to the timely and effective treatment they need.
Jessica Walthall
Research Assistant
References
- López, S. R. et al. (2018, September). Psychosis Literacy Among Latinos With First-Episode Psychosis and Their Caregivers. Psychiatric Services. Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE