Dr. M. Rana Qasim
Introduction:
The concept of mental illness is still not fully developed and majority of the
people are actually unable to comprehend the true nature of illnesses especially
terms of etiology and treatment approaches due to low literacy rate and cultural
beliefs, which are inherited and run in the families.
Aims & Objectives:
To assess how the patient approaches the doctor with psychiatric symptoms, what
types of other treatments were taken before the patient arrived at psychiatric
clinic?
Key Principles:
Analysis was made to know, how the patient has arrived at this clinic, and what
other type of treatments the patient has already received, who referred, story
of faith healer, how long patient has been suffering, and further management.
Procedure:
A cross sectional, randomized control study of 141 patients was carried-out.
Study was conducted from July to December 2000. Demographic information was
recorded, for further evaluation. Patients were offered psychiatric evaluation
and treatment. Eight faith healers were visited they were briefed about the
research being conducted, and were requested to answer, the questions to get
familiar with their treatments.
Results:
The patients were diagnosed on basis of DSM IV. 109 (77.3%) were females &
32 (22.7%) were male. Most interesting was that 63 patients (44.68%) kept on
going to faith healer and also visited researcher for treatment. 2 were male
(3.2%) and 61 female (96.8%). Treatment was offered and accepted by 125 patients
(88.65%) i-e 25 male 20% and 100 female 80%.
Conclusion:
The culture has a powerful influence on society, especially on the psychotic
patients. Even the educated and well off families have a profound believe in
faith healers. They do not hesitate to run both the treatments, from doctor
and the faith healer or Siana.