Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41526901›Full record

ArticleBMC psychiatry2026

Recognition of mental disorders among the Singapore general population: an 8-year comparison.

Shazana Shahwan, Bernard Chin Wee Tan, Yoke Boon Tan, Savita Gunasekaran, Wei Jie Ong, Saleha Shafie, Porsche Poh, Georg Schomerus, Siow Ann Chong, Mythily Subramaniam

Abstract readComparative Study
In one paragraph

Article in BMC psychiatry, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Shazana ShahwanResearch Division, Institute of Mental Health, Buangkok Green Medical Park, 10 Buangkok View, Singapore, 539747, Singapore. Shazana.mohamed.shahwan@nhghealth.com.sg.
Bernard Chin Wee TanResearch Division, Institute of Mental Health, Buangkok Green Medical Park, 10 Buangkok View, Singapore, 539747, Singapore.
Yoke Boon TanResearch Division, Institute of Mental Health, Buangkok Green Medical Park, 10 Buangkok View, Singapore, 539747, Singapore.
Savita GunasekaranResearch Division, Institute of Mental Health, Buangkok Green Medical Park, 10 Buangkok View, Singapore, 539747, Singapore.
Wei Jie OngResearch Division, Institute of Mental Health, Buangkok Green Medical Park, 10 Buangkok View, Singapore, 539747, Singapore.
Saleha ShafieResearch Division, Institute of Mental Health, Buangkok Green Medical Park, 10 Buangkok View, Singapore, 539747, Singapore.
Porsche PohSilver Ribbon, Singapore, 550208, Singapore.
Georg SchomerusDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Leipzig, 04103, Leipzig, Germany.
Siow Ann ChongResearch Division, Institute of Mental Health, Buangkok Green Medical Park, 10 Buangkok View, Singapore, 539747, Singapore.
Mythily SubramaniamResearch Division, Institute of Mental Health, Buangkok Green Medical Park, 10 Buangkok View, Singapore, 539747, Singapore.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe ability to correctly recognise an acute mental health problem is an important aspect of mental health literacy (MHL). It is also a pre-requisite for prompt help-seeking. In Singapore, the treatment gap for mental disorders is large, with close to 80% who had not received help. Since the first MHL survey in 2015, significant advances have been made to raise mental health awareness. Thus, this study aims to examine the changes in MHL 8 years after the first survey and identify current correlates of MHL.

methodA vignette approach was used to assess recognition of five conditions, major depressive disorder (MDD), alcohol abuse, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), schizophrenia, and dementia. The analysis used data from participants who were randomly assigned one of these vignettes in the two Mind Matters nationwide surveys: 3,002 participants in 2023 and 3,006 participants in 2015. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine correlates of correct recognition in the 2023 sample.

resultsOverall, recognition of the five conditions increased from 43.7 to 59.3%. Dementia, alcohol abuse and MDD remained the most recognised (≥ 65.4%). Recognition rates improved significantly for all the conditions except schizophrenia. The largest improvement was recorded for OCD with a 33.6% surge to 62.3%. Older age and lower education were associated with poorer dementia and schizophrenia recognition.

conclusionsMHL in Singapore increased since the 2015 study. However, there are still persistently low levels of literacy in relation to schizophrenia recognition and especially among those who are older and with lower educational attainment. Future mental health literacy strategies could include schizophrenia-specific content and culturally appropriate outreach to address these gaps. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: Not applicable.

Indexed as

Health Knowledge, Attitudes, PracticeHealth LiteracyMental DisordersAdultAgedFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedSingaporeYoung AdultHelp-seekingMental health literacyPopulation studyPublic beliefsRecognitionVignette

Identifiers

PMID41526901
PMCPMC12857024

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.