Prevalence Of Faith Healing Practices In Mentally Ill Patients Attending Outpatient Of Tertiary Care Hospital
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Abstract
Background:
Patients at psychiatric facilities frequently engage in faith healing. This study was done to assess the prevalence of faith healing practices in mentally ill patients and its relationship with their socio-demographic data and diagnosis.
Methods: In this study, 200 mental patients who were attending Psychiatry OPD at a tertiary care facility in Western India, religion healing practises were examined.
Results:
Regardless of diagnosis, 58.5% of patients in this study consulted a faith healer. Males with intermediate and secondary education who were young adults (35.1–10.8 years old) and the majority of participants were those who hadn't sought medical attention before their visits. The most common mental disorders among research participants were psychotic, bipolar, and dissociative; the remainder suffered from depression or anxiety disorders as well as other psychiatric conditions.
Conclusion:
Patients still go to faith healers even if psychiatric therapies are available. These have implications for how psychiatry practises. Focus should be placed on educating patients and their families about common myths about the aetiology and management of psychiatric disorders.
Article Details
References
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