8. Mental Health Beliefs: Causes of Mental illnesses According to Attendants of Mentally ill Patients in Pakistan.
Imran Javid, Muhammad Faisal, Rana Mozammil Shamsher Khan and Sana Iqbal
ABSTRACT
Objective: The objective of the current study was to investigate attendant’s beliefs about causes of mental illness of their patient.
Study Design: Cross-sectional study.
Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at the AIMT Hospital Sialkot during the month of November 2018.
Materials and Methods: Non-probability convenience sampling technique was used to get a sample size of 391. Inclusion criteria were adult attendants giving written informed consent. Attendants with psychiatric illness, medical illness and having delusions were excluded. They were asked, what do you think about the cause of mental illness of your patient? Collected data was analyzed by SPSS v 22.
Results: 203 (51.92%) attendants were male and 188 (48.08%) were female. Mean age of males was 31.34+11.23 years (range 18-62 years). Mean age of females was 29.78+10.24 years (range 18-67 years). Majority were married, illiterate and from rural background. 184 (47.06%) had family history of mental illness. Attendants beliefs about the cause of mental illness were as following, 245 (62.66%) evil spirits, 174 (44.50%) medical illnesses. 167 (42.71%) attention seeking. 86 (21.99%) head injuries,103 (26.34%) drug abuse, 93 (23.78%) drug side effects, 39 (42.71%) curse of God and 97 (24.81%) disturbed relations.
Conclusion: Of the 391 attendants of mentally ill patients 245 (62.66%) responded that evil spirits were the main cause of mental illness of their patients. 174 (44.50%) thought that these were medical illnesses too. 167 (42.71%) thought that their patients were attention seekers.
Key Words: Mental illness, attitudes, Mental health beliefs, stigma
Citation of articles: Javid I, Faisal M, Khan RMS, Iqbal S. Mental Health Beliefs: Causes of Mental Illnesses According to Attendants of Mentally Ill Patients in Pakistan. Med Forum 2019;30(2):31-34.