Department of Psychology, St. Mary’s University, 1 Camino Santa Maria, San Antonio, TX 78228, USA.
Psychiatr Serv. 2012 Jul;63(7):655-9. doi: 10.1176/appi.ps.201100371.
Critics of entertainment media have indicated that cinematic depictions of schizophrenia are stereotypic and characterized by misinformation about symptoms, causes, and treatment. The pervasiveness and nature of misinformation are difficult to ascertain because of the lack of empirically based studies of movies portraying schizophrenia. This study analyzed portrayals of schizophrenia in contemporary movies to ascertain prevalence of stereotypes and misinformation about schizophrenia.
English-language movies featuring at least one main character with schizophrenia that were released for showing in theaters between 1990 and 2010 were analyzed for depictions of schizophrenia. Two researchers independently rated each character with a checklist that assessed demographic characteristics, symptoms and stereotypes, causation, and treatment.
Forty-two characters from 41 movies were identified, a majority of whom were male and Caucasian. Most characters displayed positive symptoms of schizophrenia. Delusions were featured most frequently, followed by auditory and visual hallucinations. A majority of characters displayed violent behavior toward themselves or others, and nearly one-third of violent characters engaged in homicidal behavior. About one-fourth of characters committed suicide. Causation of schizophrenia was infrequently noted, although about one-fourth of movies implied that a traumatic life event was significant in causation. Of movies alluding to or showing treatment, psychotropic medications were most commonly portrayed.
The finding that misinformation and negative portrayals of schizophrenia in contemporary movies are common underscores the importance of determining how viewers interpret media messages and how these interpretations inform attitudes and beliefs both of the general public and of people with schizophrenia.
娱乐媒体的批评者指出，电影对精神分裂症的描述是刻板的，并且存在关于症状、病因和治疗的错误信息。由于缺乏对描绘精神分裂症的电影进行基于实证的研究，因此难以确定错误信息的普遍性和性质。本研究分析了当代电影中对精神分裂症的描述，以确定有关精神分裂症的刻板印象和错误信息的流行程度。
分析了 1990 年至 2010 年间上映的至少有一个主要角色患有精神分裂症的英语电影，以评估对精神分裂症的描述。两位研究人员使用清单对每个角色进行了独立评估，该清单评估了人口统计学特征、症状和刻板印象、病因和治疗。
从 41 部电影中确定了 42 个角色，其中大多数是男性和白种人。大多数角色表现出精神分裂症的阳性症状。妄想最常见，其次是听觉和视觉幻觉。大多数角色表现出自伤或伤害他人的暴力行为，近三分之一的暴力角色有杀人行为。大约四分之一的角色自杀。尽管大约四分之一的电影暗示创伤性生活事件对病因有重要影响，但精神分裂症的病因很少被提及。在暗示或展示治疗的电影中，精神药物最常被描绘。
当代电影中对精神分裂症的错误信息和负面描述很常见，这突出表明必须确定观众如何解释媒体信息，以及这些解释如何影响公众和精神分裂症患者的态度和信念。
