[The German population's attitude towards mental disorders]

Ill, but Still Attractive? The Impact of Mental Illness on Attractiveness Perceptions and Social Judgment

In line with the "beautiful-is-good" heuristic, numerous studies show that physically attractive individuals are perceived in a more positive light. However, building on previous findings suggesting that the "beauty-good" relationship is bidirectional, the present research investigates how information on a stigmatized attribute impacts attractiveness perceptions and social judgments. Within a controlled experimental design, we present evidence that the mere label of mental illness (i.e., schizophrenia) decreased the positivity of personality evaluations and perceived attractiveness of a male target that had previously been validated to be highly attractive. Consistent with the "good-is-beautiful" heuristic, a mental illness label led to decreased perceptions of attractiveness, which was mediated by the inference of less positive personality characteristics. This finding lends further support for the bidirectional nature of the "beauty-good" relationship and provides a valuable avenue for future research on the multifaceted ways in which the stigma of mental illness affects social perceptions.

[How can the potential of internet- and mobile-based interventions be used in the treatment of depression? Findings from a qualitative survey among German psychotherapists]

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES

Internet and mobile-based interventions (IMIs) can reduce the unmet need for treatment of people with depression. The service providers as key actors in the healthcare market play an essential role in implementation. Therefore, the barriers, drivers and expectations from the perspective of psychotherapists were examined.

METHODS

In the Nuremberg area, n=15 psychotherapists were interviewed using a semi-structured guideline. The data were then evaluated according to the principles of Grounded Theory.

RESULTS

Primarily, optimizing patient benefits and bridging waiting times and aftercare were seen as advantages. Challenges exist in relation to insufficient information and communication channels between those involved in the healthcare market and the resulting lack of therapists' experiences with IMIs.

DISCUSSION

In addition to the drivers and barriers, different fields of action must be taken into account in order to increase the implementation of IMIs in the care of people with depression; these include the way that IMIs are integrated into the treatment process, the conception of IMIs and the relationships on the healthcare market. The decisive factor here is to increase cooperation between all those involved in the healthcare market.

CONCLUSION

The barriers identified are mainly due to insufficient information and communication channels within the healthcare market. They provide helpful guidance for understanding how the increased implementation of IMIs into the care process in the treatment of depression can succeed.