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Help-Seeking Behaviour of Patients Attending the Psychiatric Service in a Sample of United Arab Emirates Population

Author

Listed:
  • Mohamed Omar Salem

    (Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, UAE University, UAE, mohamed.salem@uaeu.ac.ae)

  • Bader Saleh

    (Arab Board in Psychiatry, Psychiatric Specialist, Al-Ain Hospital, Al Ain, UAE)

  • Said Yousef

    (Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, UAE University, UAE)

  • Sufyan Sabri

    (Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, UAE University, UAE)

Abstract

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Mohamed Omar Salem & Bader Saleh & Said Yousef & Sufyan Sabri, 2009. "Help-Seeking Behaviour of Patients Attending the Psychiatric Service in a Sample of United Arab Emirates Population," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 55(2), pages 141-148, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:socpsy:v:55:y:2009:i:2:p:141-148
    DOI: 10.1177/0020764008093373
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Mansfield, Christopher J. & Mitchell, Jim & King, Dana E., 2002. "The doctor as God's mechanic? Beliefs in the Southeastern United States," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 54(3), pages 399-409, February.
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    Cited by:

    1. Shaden Adel & Karim Abdel Aziz & Dina El Tabei & Noha Adel Mahfouz & Dina Aly El-Gabry, 2023. "Patterns and factors associated with consulting traditional healers on the care pathway of psychiatric patients in the United Arab Emirates," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 69(5), pages 1202-1212, August.
    2. Mona Ibrahim Awaad & Nesreen Mohsen Ibrahim & Rehab Mohamed Naguib & Sherien Ahmed Khalil & Mahmoud Elhabiby & Zainab Khaled Mohamed, 2020. "Role of traditional healers in the pathway to care of patients with schizophrenia in Egypt," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 66(4), pages 382-388, June.
    3. Monica Zolezzi & Maha Alamri & Shahd Shaar & Daniel Rainkie, 2018. "Stigma associated with mental illness and its treatment in the Arab culture: A systematic review," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 64(6), pages 597-609, September.
    4. Ahmed M Sewilam & Annie MM Watson & Ahmed M Kassem & Sue Clifton & Margaret C McDonald & Rebecca Lipski & Smita Deshpande & Hader Mansour & Vishwajit L Nimgaonkar, 2015. "Suggested avenues to reduce the stigma of mental illness in the Middle East," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 61(2), pages 111-120, March.

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