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Public perception of ex-mental patients.

J Fracchia, C Sheppard, D Canale, E Cambria, E Ruest and S Merlis

Data are presented from two studies which show that perceptions of ex-mental patients appear to derive from a lack of information and that the provision of information alters the perception of former patients. Perceived unpredictability of behavior and dangerousness seem to form a dyad that causes the public to fear the mentally ill. More positive perceptions of mildly ill ex-mental patients were obtained when subjects were given short paragraphs describing typical behaviors and symptoms. These findings support the notion that a fear-motivated threat recoil cycle process is likely to be evoked by attempts to establish locally based treatment facilities, particularly in residential communities.