Anti stigma campaigns: really useful and effective? A critical review of the anti-stigma initiatives conducted in Italy

Aim. Stigma related to mental illness determines important negative consequences to psychiatric patients. It is important to determine if the number of anti-stigma campaigns are effective and useful. This paper aims to identify anti-stigma projects carried out in Italy in the last ten years and to evaluate their effectiveness. Method. Anti-stigma campaigns conducted in Italy in the last decade have been scrutinized. These campaigns have been identified through direct contact with promoting organizations, by a web search and by a search conducted on electronic scientific databases (PsycINFO, Medline and Embase). Anti-stigma campaigns thus identified have been classified according to a series of key methodological criteria proposed by the international literature. Results. 71 anti-stigma programs have been identified. These projects are significantly heterogeneous in both their conception and practical realization. A lack of information on the results obtained by the vast majority of the anti-stigma programs was found, thus not allowing to gain any insight on their effectiveness. Most of the reviewed programs did not follow procedures based on scientific evidence. Discussions. Anti-stigma programs should be founded on rigorous methodological principles and on the best evidence available; this is needed in order to create efforts with the highest rate of possible success.