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The aim of this study is to explore the help-seeking behaviour of Malay psychiatric patients. A semi-structured interview based on a standard proforma was conducted to assess help seeking process and delays for Malay psychiatric patients attending the psychiatric clinic for the first time. Help-seeking process and delays were defined. Among 134 patients evaluated in the study, 69% had visited traditional healers (bomoh) for the present illness before consulting psychiatrists. The second popular choice of treatment was medical practitioner and only a small percentage of them had consulted homeopathic practitioners and herbalists. Patients who had consulted bomohs were significantly delayed in getting psychiatric treatment compared with those who had not consulted them. Consultation of bomohs was significantly higher among married patients, those with major psychiatric illnesses and in family who believed in supernatural causes of mental illness. However, there was no significant difference in age, gender, educational status and occupation between patients who had consulted and not consulted bomoh. We concluded that majority of the Malay psychiatric patients had sought the traditional treatment prior to psychiatric consultation. The strength of social support and the belief of the patients, friends, and/or relatives in supernatural causes of mental illness were strongly associated with the rate of traditional treatment. Deep-seated cultural beliefs were major barrier to psychiatric treatment.

Zusammenfassung
Der vorliegende Artikel charakterisiert "gesunde" Religiosität und, von klassisch psychiatrischem Standpunkt aus, psychopathologisch relevante Formen und stellt sie einander gegenüber. Auch die jeweiligen Auswirkungen auf das psychische Befinden werden berücksichtigt. Auf den Begriff "Spiritualität" wird kurz eingegangen. Bei der vorliegenden Problematik sind Verständnis und Empathie besonders wichtig, um den kommunikativen und ggf. therapeutischen Zugang zu Menschen mit devianter Religiosität zu gewinnen.

Ежегодно увеличивается количество актов агрессии, приводящих к гибели людей и порождающих нестабильность в обществе. Согласно положению военной доктрины РФ, в мире ожидается увеличение частоты применения высокоточного оружия. Одновременно одной из основных внешних опасностей является быстрое распространение международного терроризма, из-за которого страдает в большей степени мирное население.Цель настоящей работы – выявление современных тенденций явления терроризма и анализ работы модели бригадного оказания психолого-психиатрической помощи пострадавшим.Результаты. В настоящей статье обоснована необходимость начала медицинской реабилитации пострадавших непосредственно на месте совершения теракта и доказана эффективность бригадной модели оказания психолого-психиатрической помощи. Раскрыты особенности диагностики острых стрессовых реакций у пострадавших и свидетелей террористических актов, подчеркнута важность этих знаний для узкоспециализированных врачей.Заключение. Результаты работы психолого-психиатрических бригад доказали эффективность модели бригадного оказания экстренной психологической помощи. ; Every year, the number of acts of aggression increases, leading to the death of people and causing instability in society. According to the position of the military doctrine of the Russian Federation, the frequency of the use of precision weapons is expected to increase in the world. At the same time, one of the main external dangers is the rapid spread of international terrorism, because of which the civilian population is suffering to a greater extent.The purpose of this work is to identify current trends in the phenomenon of terrorism and to analyze the work of the model of brigade psychosocial support for victims.Results. This article substantiates the need to start medical rehabilitation of victims directly on the site of the terrorist act and the effectiveness of the brigade model of psycho-psychiatric care is proved. The features of the diagnosis of acute stress reactions among victims and witnesses of terrorist acts are revealed, and the importance of this knowledge for highly specialized doctors is emphasized.The conclusion. The results of the work of psycho-psychiatric teams proved the effectiveness of the model of brigade rendering of emergency psychological help.

Aim:to describe the impact of neuro-psycho-education-existential group program onpersonal formation and its possible application for mental health, health and socialprofessions in different contexts by taking into consideration the current practice withpsychiatric and intellectual disability persons.Framework: the theoretical foundations of clinically based in combination ofperspectives as neuropsychology, psycho education and existentialism are reviewed andthe common positive elements of practice are identified.Practical application:examples of well-defined ten weekly neuro-psycho-education-existential interventions in group developedin public spaces are presented that meetcriteria for empiricallysupported psychologicalinterventions at persons with psychiatricand intellectual disabilities.Outcomes:in conclusion, the specific application of neuro-psycho-education-existentialgroup program for health care, mental healthand social practice at both the clinical andcommunity disability level is discussed.Implications:the need for further evaluation and design research is consideredfor abetter implementation into practice.

Background: Many patients suffering from psychiatric disorders seek non-professional care before attending specialized services. Aims: To study the help-seeking behaviour of patients referred to the psychiatric department of Al-Ain Hospital, which is the main university teaching hospital in UAE. Methods: This study was a descriptive cross-sectional epidemiological survey. All new patients attending the psychiatry out-patient clinic at Al-Ain Hospital were screened for nine consecutive months from March to November 2003 inclusive. Results: The sample consisted of 106 patients (52 male; 54 female). Prior to presenting to the psychiatric service, 44.8% consulted faith healers, 31% of whom had had a previous experience with them; 45% reported some improvement but their symptoms recurred later, while 47% reported no improvement. In 8% their symptoms worsened for the current episode. Treatments received were herbal (29.8%) and prayer (70.2%). Of the sample, 43.4% consulted a primary care physician before presenting to the secondary psychiatric care. Conclusion: In this sample a sizable number of patients sought alternative methods of treatment before attending the specialized psychiatric services.

Background:The financial crisis has yielded adverse effects on the population worldwide, as evidenced by elevated rates of major depression. International recommendations for offsetting the mental health impact of the recession highlight the need for effective treatment, including reduction in the stigma attached to the disorder.Aims:This study endeavoured to explore lay attitudes to depression and psychiatric medication during a period of financial crisis and to identify their correlates. Furthermore, it investigated their link to help-seeking intentions.Method:A random and representative sample of 621 respondents from Athens area participated in the study (Response Rate = 81.7%). The telephone interview schedule consisted of the Personal Stigma Scale, a self-constructed scale tapping attitudes to psychiatric medication and one question addressing help-seeking intentions.Results:The preponderant stigmatising belief about depression pertains to perceiving the disorder as a sign of personal weakness. In addition, stereotypes of unpredictability and dangerousness were popular among the sample. Nonetheless, stigmatising beliefs are much stronger with regard to psychiatric medication; perceived as addictive, capable of altering one's personality, less effective than homeopathic remedies and doing more harm than good. Help-seeking intentions were predicted by education, unemployment and attitudes to psychiatric medication solely.Conclusion:Research on the mental health effects of the global recession should encompass studies investigating the stigma attached to mental disorders and its implications.

Ninety six males and ninety six females from a Turkish village have been questioned regarding their opinions about the causes of mental illness, psychiatric help-sources and traditional healers. Psychological, social and medical responses prevailed among the sample studied. Males gave more social whereas females tended to give more psychological responses. Psychiatrists were ranked as most helpful, mental hospitals as second most helpful and traditional healers were ranked as least helpful in treating mental illness.