To assess attitudes of relatives of mentally ill patients to psychiatric research, especially to early detection of schizophrenic psychosis, and to evaluate the potential stigmatization effect of an early diagnosis of schizophrenic psychosis.A questionnaire was sent to relatives of mentally ill patients, all members of a self-help group in Switzerland. They were asked to answer structured questions about their personal attitude to psychiatric research in general, their willingness to support an affected person to participate in a research project, their attitude to early detection of schizophrenia and to the potential stigmatization of an early diagnosis.88% of the relatives (n = 200) have a positive attitude to research in psychiatry. 47% would support their affected family member to participate in a research project whereas 39% would not. 52.5% fully share the expectation of psychiatric research to attain a better course by earlier detection of psychosis, 24.5% tend to agree. 20.5% of the respondents indicate a fear of stigmatization for the affected by earlier diagnosis, while 12% fear stigmatization for themselves.A surprising fact is the positive attitude of relatives to psychiatric research in general, but also to early detection of schizophrenic psychosis. But this cannot lead to the conclusion that relatives are supporting the participation of an affected family member in research. The small number of relatives that fears a stigmatization by earlier diagnosis of schizophrenic psychosis shows that stigmatization depends on other factors than the diagnosis, i.e. psychiatric hospitalization or medication side effects. These findings encourage psychiatric research to increase knowledge of the early phase of schizophrenia in favor of patients and their relatives.
