Convivencia barrial con pacientes psiquiátricos y sus efectos en las actitudes de la comunidad: estudio en la Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina. 2012-2013/Neighborhood living with psychiatric patients and its impact on community attitudes: study in the Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina. 2012-2013

The objective of this study was to analyze the effects on the neighbors' attitudes related with the community living with people discharged from a psychiatric hospital. Observational analytical study where two groups were compared: one composed by neighbors of group homes for discharged patients from a psychiatric hospital and the other composed by an equivalent area but without group homes nearby. A questionnaire was administered to both groups and it explored: neighborhood features, attitudes toward certain groups, attitudes toward mental illness and its treatment. A sub-sample of the study group was re-contacted and a new questionnaire was administered with the purpose to analyzed in depth the community life with the group home tenants and its effects on the neighborhood and the neighbors. It was found a statistically significant difference between the study and the control group regarding acceptance toward people with mental illness. Also, and association between the level of social cohesion and the acceptance toward people with mental illness, was found.