Arif Ali, Masroor Jahan.
Magico religious belief among caregivers of person with psychiatric disorder towards mental illness as a determinants to pathway to psychiatric care: a study from North East India.
J Pak Psych Soc Jan ;9(2):68-73.

Objective: To assess magico religious belief among care givers of psychiatric disorder and its relation ship with pathway to psychiatric care adopted by care givers as determinants in the study population. Design: Cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of study: This study was done in the Ranchi Institute of Neuro Psychiatry and Allied Sciences (RINPAS) Kanke, Ranchi, Jharkhand from August 2007 to August 2008. Subjects and methods: A total of 200 patients with non affective psychosis and their caregivers, suitable for study according to inclusion and exclusion criteria were taken from out patient department of Ranchi Institute. The caregivers accompanying the patient were administered socio demographic data sheet, The Supernatural Attitude Questionnaire and semi structured interview schedule to assess path way to psychiatric care. Results: Majority (60%) of primary care givers believe that patient behavior or abnormal experiences are due to Jadu Tona, (60%) Bhoot Pret, Opari Kasar, Devi Devta Prakop (58.5%), Grah Nakchatra (54.0%) & Evil sprit (55%). The majority of the care givers (79%) believe that ritual/puja/jhad phook can improve patient illness. 61% of the caregivers had first contacted faith healers and only 20 % of care givers contacted psychiatrist first for treatment of the patients. Conclusion: Findings revealed that there is a widespread belief in supernatural causation of mental illness in caregivers of person with mental disorder and it influence pathway to psychiatric care. Due to a lack of awareness about illness and treatment services, the distance, and due to the fear of the stigma associated with mental illness among the caregivers. The psychiatric patients first seek the help of various sources prior to attending a psychiatric health care facility. The pathway adopted by these patients need to be kept in mind at the time of preparation of the mental health program and delivery of mental health services.

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