COST-EFFECTIVENESS OF SCREENING FOR DIABETES IN A COHORT OFPATIENTS WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA (original) (raw)
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The search for traditional religious treatment amongst schizophrenic patients: the current situation
Anatolian Journal of Psychiatry, 2016
Objective: Societies have been searching for different traditional treatments for schizophrenia at different rates. Understanding the preferences and priorities of patients as they explore treatment is important for the proper management of this process. This study evaluated the frequency of patients' pursuit of traditional treatment for schizophrenia and the factors associated with this in western Turkey. Methods: The study involved 346 patients who were diagnosed with schizophrenia at inpatient psychiatry clinics and community mental health centres in Kocaeli and Sakarya. The patients were re-evaluated using the SCID-I-CV to confirm the diagnosis and were then asked to fill in a survey form to facilitate the evaluation of their search for traditional schizophrenia treatment. Results: Amongst the participants, 89.3% had consulted a traditional healer for schizophrenia treatment at least once in their lifetime. All of the traditional healers who were consulted were religious healers. Of all the participants, 39% consulted traditional healers for first aid treatment. Although the patients had not had any attack that required hospitalization in the past year, 27% continued to consult such healers and 26% continued to wear amulets. The results showed that the educational levels of the patients' relatives were a predictor of the tendency to consult traditional healers. Conclusions: Most schizophrenic patients have consulted traditional religious healers at least once in their lifetime (89.3%). This is a very high rate and should be considered by physicians as they evaluate patients' search for help.
Prevalence of Psychiatric Disorders Among Followers Visiting Faith Healers
Journal of Evolution of Medical and Dental Sciences
BACKGROUND Faith healers play an important role in treating psychosomatic problems of patients apart from western medicine and alternative medicine in India. Although their role is not studied well in modern literature and their contribution is seen lightly in the light of evidence-based medicine, this does not deter patients from seeking treatment from faith healers. The present study is conceived to know the psychosocial characteristics of faith healers and followers. MATERIALS AND METHODS The observational study included 10 faith healers and their 100 followers. Both the groups were interviewed. They were assured of their confidentiality and informed written consent was taken. Demographic data was collected using a structured performa and 16 Personality Factor Questionnaire was used to know personality traits of followers as well as faith healers. RESULTS Female followers comprised 54% of study sample. Majority of the subjects fell in the age group of 20-40 years irrespective of their sex. Mean age of study participants was 35.91 years. Two thirds of sample were married male/female. 53% of the total subjects were Hindu and 44% of subjects were housewives belonging to low socioeconomic status and low literacy. Sadness and unresponsiveness were the most common reasons of visit by the attendees. Personality profile of the followers reflects reserve and detached tendency with low emotional stability and low frustration tolerance. They are self-indulgent, conservative and follow traditional ideas. On the other hand, the faith healers were observed to have tough mindedness with realistic tendencies, conservative nature and tolerance of traditional ideas. The sample size estimation was also done at conveniences. CONCLUSION The role of social support system, method of traditional healing and the underlying implications for service delivery are important in the near future. The need of the followers should be understood by modern treatment strategies. However, further extensive studies may be required to establish the theoretical value of findings of this study.
DELAY AND TREATMENT FACTORS OF PSYCHIATRIC TREATMENT AMONG PATIENTS SEEKING FAITH HEALERS
Kerala Journal of Psychiatry, 2020
Background: Belief in faith healers, lack of awareness and stigma of mental illness have placed obstacles in timely identification and treatment of mental illness. This study assessed the factors influencing individuals with mental illness to seek faith healers. It was also planned to study the delay caused due to faith healers in starting psychiatric treatment.
The Prevalence of Psychiatric Disorders Among Visitors to Faith Healers in Saudi Arabia
Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences, 1969
Objective: We investigated the prevalence of psychiatric disorders among visitors to Faith Healers (FHs) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. We also studied the sociodemographic profiles for these visitors, in addition to their past psychiatric history, reason(s) for seeking FH help, and past and current treatment experience with FHs. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study among the visitors (n=321) to a number of faith healing settings in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia using a specially designed questionnaire and validated Arabic version of The Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview. Results: Most of the participants were young adults (35.1±10.8 years) and males with intermediate and secondary levels of education who had not sought medical help prior to their visits. A high proportion of the FH visitors have diagnosable mental illnesses. Depressive and anxiety disorders were the most prevalent among the study participants; few visitors were affected by psychotic or bipolar disorders. Conclusions: The present study provides insight for understanding the type of patients with psychiatric disorders who visit Faith Healers.(FHs). The study highlights the tendency of psychiatric patients in Saudi Arabia to visit FHs, which could reflect the importance of further studies to clarify the impact of FHs on the management of those patients.
East Asian Archives of Psychiatry 2014; 24: 58-67.
Objective: To explore the relationship between attribution of symptoms to supernatural beliefs and first treatment contact in caregivers of patients with schizophrenia attending a tertiary care hospital located in North India. Methods: A total of 122 caregivers (aged ≥ 18 years, staying with patient ≥ 1 year and involved in patients’ care) of consecutive patients with diagnosis of schizophrenia (according to the ICD-10) were evaluated for their supernatural beliefs and first treatment contact. Results: The first treatment contact was a government or private psychiatrist in slightly more than half (53.3%) of the patients, while it was faith healers in 23.8% of the patients. Around three quarters (74.6%) of the caregivers attributed patients’ symptoms to ≥ 1 supernatural belief (like sorcery / witchcraft, ghosts, spirit intrusion, divine wrath, planetary influences, evil spirits, and bad deeds in previous life) and more than half (57.4%) of the caregivers attributed patients’ symptoms to > 1 supernatural belief. It was observed that those who contacted faith healers for their patients’ treatment had significantly higher attribution of the symptoms to supernatural causes. Conclusions: Supernatural beliefs were common in caregivers of patients with schizophrenia and the majority attributed their patients’ symptoms to these beliefs. It signifies an urgent need for mental health literacy in India.
Prevalence and Correlates of Diabetes in National Schizophrenia Samples
People with schizophrenia may be at increased risk for Type II diabetes because of the side effects of antipsychotic medication, poorer overall physical health, less healthy lifestyles, and poorer health care. The present study uses data bases collected by the Schizophrenia Patient Outcomes Research Team (PORT) to assess the prevalence and demographic and clinical correlates of diabetes within large populations of persons receiving treatment for schizophrenia. In the Schizophrenia PORT, Medicaid and Medicare data from 1991 and more recent interview data were collected regarding the comorbidity of schizophrenia and diabetes: prevalence, quality of life, physical health, and services utilization and costs. The study found that rates of diagnosed diabetes exceeded general population statistics well before the widespread use of the new antipsychotic drugs. Risk factors for diabetes were similar to those observed in the general population. The linkage of diabetes to poor physical health, medical morbidity, and increased service use and cost requires attention. This study of diabetes in the early 1990s suggests that even before the widespread use of the atypical antipsychotic drugs, diabetes was a major problem for persons with schizophrenia. L. Dixon et al. implications for health screening, treatment planning, costs, and locus of care delivery are considerable.
Religious Beliefs in Schizophrenia: Their Relevance for Adherence to Treatment
Schizophrenia Bulletin, 2007
The study examined how religious beliefs and practices impact upon medication and illness representations in chronic schizophrenia. One hundred three stabilized patients were included in Geneva's outpatient public psychiatric facility in Switzerland. Interviews were conducted to investigate spiritual and religious beliefs and religious practices and religious coping. Medication adherence was assessed through questions to patients and to their psychiatrists and by a systematic blood drug monitoring. Thirty-two percent of patients were partially or totally nonadherent to oral medication. Fifty-eight percent of patients were Christians, 2% Jewish, 3% Muslim, 4% Buddhist, 14% belonged to various minority or syncretic religious movements, and 19% had no religious affiliation. Two thirds of the total sample considered spirituality as very important or even essential in everyday life. Fifty-seven percent of patients had a representation of their illness directly influenced by their spiritual beliefs (positively in 31% and negatively in 26%). Religious representations of illness were prominent in nonadherent patients. Thirty-one percent of nonadherent patients and 27% of partially adherent patients underlined an incompatibility or contradiction between their religion and taking medication, versus 8% of adherent patients. Religion and spirituality contribute to shaping representations of disease and attitudes toward medical treatment in patients with schizophrenia. This dimension should be on the agenda of psychiatrists working with patients with schizophrenia.
Schizophrenia and faith healing in Najaf/Iraq
The objective of this study is to determine the rates and predictors of consulting faith healers by patients with schizophrenia, and therapeutic rituals practiced by therapists in Najaf province/Iraq. 70 patients, aged 18 year and older who attended the psychiatric outpatient unit in Najaf were invited to assess their previous contacts with faith healers. Our data demonstrated that prior faith healers consultation rate was 80%. Being younger, less formally educated, married, and female was significantly associated with faith healers consultation. Fourteen types of religious therapeutic rituals were identified. We concluded that faith healers consultation is popular and accessible among patients with schizophrenia in Iraq. Some rituals are harmful. Collaborative work with faith healers is recommended for a better quality of care.
European Psychiatry, 2005
An interactive workshop was held to discuss the risk of diabetes in patients with schizophrenia, to evaluate the available data concerning how such patients should be managed in terms of minimising the risk of diabetes and of optimising their care where diabetes to develop. The subjects discussed covered monitoring of risk factors, education about lifestyle and the risk of diabetes, patient care and treatment options, and interfaces between psychiatry and diabetology. The workshop noted that all patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia had an elevated risk of developing diabetes and that this needed to be reflected in the follow-up of the patients in order to reduce the chances of the emergence of disease. The risk of diabetes is complicated by the presence of other risk factors and the intensity of the diabetes prevention programme needs to reflect adequately the overall risk. The most important prevention methods relate to lifestyle changes that patients with schizophrenia may be spontaneously unlikely to adopt and therefore necessitate the implementation of specific education measures aimed at patients and their families. The workshop proposed follow-up intensities, monitoring procedures and prevention programmes stratified according to the risk of developing diabetes. It was not considered that there was sufficient data available to orientate treatment choices between individual antipsychotic drugs according to the potential risk of developing diabetes.
Magico-Religious Belief in Psychosis
Journal of Evidence Based Medicine and Healthcare, 2019
BACKGROUND Magico-religious beliefs are widely prevalent in India and eastern countries compared to western countries. This causes the patients and their families spending extra ordinary time, money and effort in seeking their treatment and it will also increase the duration of untreated psychosis. We wanted to describe magico-religious belief of caregivers and patients suffering from psychosis. METHODS A descriptive study was carried out among fifty consecutive patients attending the outpatient department of our Institute of Mental Health after enrolling them in the study. Participants were selected through a simple random sampling method. Data was collected through face to face interview using a structured questionnaire. Informed consent obtained. The process was explained to all. RESULTS 24 patients had schizophrenia, 9 patients had bipolar affective disorder, 12 patients had psychosis NOS, 5 patients had alcohol with psychosis. 30 patients were in the 20-30 years age group. 16 patients were in the 30-40 years category. 4 patients were in the 40-50 age group category. CONCLUSIONS Supernatural beliefs are common in caregivers and patients with psychiatric illness. Many of them attribute the symptoms of mental illnesses to these beliefs. So, this will increase the duration of untreated psychosis and delays seeking treatment in psychiatric hospitals. Thus, there is a need to change the attitude of the general population towards people with mental illness through awareness campaign.