Julie Schoonover1, Samuel Lipkin2, Munazza Javid3, Anna Rosen4, Mehul Solanki5, Sandip Shah6, Craig L Katz7. 1. Global Health Center Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY; Department of Medical Education, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY. Electronic address: Julie.schoonover@mssm.edu. 2. New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY. 3. Global Health Center Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY; Department of Medical Education, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY. 4. Global Health Center Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY. 5. MINDS Foundation, Waltham, MA. 6. Department of Psychiatry, Sumandeep Vidyapeeth, Gujarat, India. 7. Global Health Center Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY; Department of Medical Education, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY; Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Despite the significant toll of mental illness on the Indian population, resources for patients often are scarce, especially in rural areas. Traditional healing has a long history in India and is still widely used, including for mental illnesses. However, its use has rarely been studied systematically. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the perspective of patients, their families, and healthy community members toward faith healing for mental illness, including the type of interventions received, perceptions of its efficacy, and overall satisfaction with the process. We also sought to explore the range of care received in the community and investigate possibilities for enhancing mental health treatment in rural Gujarat. METHODS: We interviewed 49 individuals in July 2013 at Dhiraj General Hospital and in 8 villages surrounding Vadodara. A structured qualitative interview elicited attitudes toward faith healing for mental illnesses and other diseases. Qualitative analysis was performed on the completed data set using grounded theory methodology. FINDINGS: Subjects treated by both a doctor and a healer reported they overwhelmingly would recommend a doctor over a healer. Almost all who were treated with medication recognized an improvement in their condition. Many subjects felt that traditional healing can be beneficial and believed that patients should initially go to a healer for their problems. Many also felt that healers are not effective for mental illness or are dishonest and should not be used. CONCLUSIONS: Subjects were largely dissatisfied with their experiences with traditional healers, but healing is still an incredibly common first-line practice in Gujarat. Because healers are such integral parts of their communities and so commonly sought out, collaboration between faith healers and medical practitioners would hold significant promise as a means to benefit patients. This partnership could improve access to care and decrease the burden of mental illness experienced by patients and their communities.
BACKGROUND: Despite the significant toll of mental illness on the Indian population, resources for patients often are scarce, especially in rural areas. Traditional healing has a long history in India and is still widely used, including for mental illnesses. However, its use has rarely been studied systematically. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the perspective of patients, their families, and healthy community members toward faith healing for mental illness, including the type of interventions received, perceptions of its efficacy, and overall satisfaction with the process. We also sought to explore the range of care received in the community and investigate possibilities for enhancing mental health treatment in rural Gujarat. METHODS: We interviewed 49 individuals in July 2013 at Dhiraj General Hospital and in 8 villages surrounding Vadodara. A structured qualitative interview elicited attitudes toward faith healing for mental illnesses and other diseases. Qualitative analysis was performed on the completed data set using grounded theory methodology. FINDINGS: Subjects treated by both a doctor and a healer reported they overwhelmingly would recommend a doctor over a healer. Almost all who were treated with medication recognized an improvement in their condition. Many subjects felt that traditional healing can be beneficial and believed that patients should initially go to a healer for their problems. Many also felt that healers are not effective for mental illness or are dishonest and should not be used. CONCLUSIONS: Subjects were largely dissatisfied with their experiences with traditional healers, but healing is still an incredibly common first-line practice in Gujarat. Because healers are such integral parts of their communities and so commonly sought out, collaboration between faith healers and medical practitioners would hold significant promise as a means to benefit patients. This partnership could improve access to care and decrease the burden of mental illness experienced by patients and their communities.
Authors: A S J van der Watt; T van de Water; G Nortje; B D Oladeji; S Seedat; O Gureje Journal: Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol Date: 2018-04-25 Impact factor: 4.328
Authors: Oyinlola Oyebode; Ngianga-Bakwin Kandala; Peter J Chilton; Richard J Lilford Journal: Health Policy Plan Date: 2016-03-30 Impact factor: 3.344