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A systematic examination of the nature and content of vignettes in schizophrenia research
- Authors:
- ALDERSEY Heather Michelle, HUYNH Doan Chinh, WHITLEY Rob
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Mental Health, 25(3), 2016, pp.189-196.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- London
Background: Vignettes are often used in psychiatric research, yet there are few systematic studies on their content, creation, and use. Aims: This article describes a study of: (a) how researchers create vignettes in research on schizophrenia and (b) how these vignettes portray individuals with schizophrenia. Method: The authors conducted a systematic search of the PubMed database for articles between 2008 and 2012 that used vignettes to measure attitudes about schizophrenia. They analysed the identified vignettes using a tool developed in reference to DSM criteria. Results: Within the vignettes, 98% of individuals portrayed demonstrated delusions, 91% demonstrated hallucinations and 29% demonstrated disorganised speech. The majority of vignettes portrayed individuals under 25 years and when both genders were not depicted, researchers chose to depict men much more frequently than women (41% vs. 8%). A majority of articles did not use original vignettes (55%), and many of the articles (53%) contained vignettes created by one team of researchers. Most vignettes did not include positive language or recovery-oriented information. Conclusions: This study highlights a need for critical thought on vignette development and utilisation, especially as psychiatry is now moving towards a recovery-based understanding of mental illness. (Edited publisher abstract)