A randomised controlled trial of repeated filmed social contact on reducing mental illness-related stigma in young adults

S Koike; S Yamaguchi; Y Ojio; K Ohta; T Shimada; K Watanabe; G Thornicroft; S Ando

doi:10.1017/S2045796016001050

A randomised controlled trial of repeated filmed social contact on reducing mental illness-related stigma in young adults

Epidemiol Psychiatr Sci. 2018 Apr;27(2):199-208. doi: 10.1017/S2045796016001050. Epub 2016 Dec 19.

Authors

S Koike¹, S Yamaguchi², Y Ojio³, K Ohta⁴, T Shimada¹, K Watanabe¹, G Thornicroft⁵, S Ando⁶

Affiliations

¹ Office for Mental Health Support, Division for Counseling and Support,The University of Tokyo,7-3-1 Hongo,Bunkyo-ku,Tokyo 113-8654,Japan.
² Department of Psychiatric Rehabilitation,National Institute of Mental Health,National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry,4-1-1 Ogawa-Higashi,Kodaira,Tokyo 187-8553,Japan.
³ Department of Physical and Health Education,The University of Tokyo,7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku,Tokyo 113-0033,Japan.
⁴ University of Tokyo Institute for Diversity & Adaptation of Human Mind (UTIDAHM),Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153-8902,Japan.
⁵ Health Service and Population Research Department,King's College London,Institute of Psychiatry,Psychology and Neuroscience,London SE5 8AF,UK.
⁶ Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science,Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science,2-1-6 Kamikitazawa,Setagayaku,Tokyo 156-8506,Japan.

Abstract

Aims: Public stigma alters attitudes towards people with mental illness, and is a particular concern for young people since most mental health problems occur in adolescence and young adulthood. However, little is known about the long-term effects of repeated filmed social contact (FSC) on reducing mental health-related stigma among young adults in the general population, compared with self-instructional Internet search (INS) and control interventions.

Methods: This study is a parallel-group randomised controlled trial over 12 months conducted in Tokyo, Japan. A total of 259 university students (male n = 150, mean age = 20.0 years, s.d. = 1.2) were recruited from 20 colleges and universities between November 2013 and July 2014, without being provided information about the mental health-related survey or trial. Participants were assigned to one of three groups before completion of the baseline survey (FSC/INS/control = 89/83/87). The FSC group received a computer-based 30-min social contact film with general mental health education and five follow-up web-based FSCs at 2-month intervals. The INS group undertook a 30-min search for mental health-related information with five follow-up web-based reminders for self-instructional searches at 2-month intervals. The control group played PC games and had no follow-up intervention. The main outcome measures were the future (intended behaviour) domain of the Reported and Intended Behaviour Scale at 12 months after the intervention. Analysis was conducted in September 2015.

Results: At the 12-month follow-up, 218 participants completed the survey (84.1%, 75:70:73). The FSC group showed the greatest change at the 12-month follow-up (FSC: mean change 2.11 [95% CI 1.49, 2.73], INS: 1.04 [0.29, 1.80], control: 0.71 [0.09, 1.33]; FSC v. INS p = 0.037, FSC v. controls p = 0.004). No adverse events were reported during the follow-up period.

Conclusions: FSC was more successful in reducing stigma at 12 months after intervention than INS or control interventions. FSC could be used to reduce stigma in educational lectures and anti-stigma campaigns targeted at young people.

Study registration: This study is registered at UMIN-CTR (No. UMIN000012239).

Keywords: Health education; mental health; social discrimination; stigma.

Publication types

Randomized Controlled Trial
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Adult
Female
Health Education / methods*
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice*
Humans
Japan
Mass Media*
Mental Disorders / psychology*
Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care
Social Discrimination*
Social Stigma*
Surveys and Questionnaires
Young Adult