Demons or dopamine? perceptions of mental illness and implications for treatment in a developing country - abstract

ABSTRACT

A preliminary study involving a cross-section of 288 persons showed that a majority believed in demons and that mental illness could be caused by demoniacal possession. 71 percent believed in the existence of demons and 65 percent thought that demons could possess people. Those employed at the hospital were particularly strong in their beliefs of demoniacal existence (82.4 percent) and demoniacal possession (75.7 percent) respectively. Females were significantly higher in their beliefs of demoniacal states than males (p<0.05) and teenagers had a significantly lower score than adults. Such beliefs often delay contact with primary health care givers and can have negative impact on on treatment and outcome. Current medical practice tends to reject such beliefs and treatment by local healers. The local psychiatrist is aware that the belief in demoniacal possession is widespread and many perceive mental illness to result from such possession. The psychiatrist in the developing country must devise ways of intervention which are acceptable to the beliefs of the population. A treatment paradigm of culture therapy is proposed which attempts to incorporate religo-magical healing and empirical-scientific treatment. (Au)