Knowledge, beliefs and practice of faith healers in Saudi Arabia

Abstract EN

Background: Mental health literacy of health providers, consumers and the public has many important implications in psychiatry.

Objective: to explore psychiatric knowledge, beliefs and practice of faith healers.

Settings: Al-Qassim Area, Saudi Arabia.

Method: Fourty-five faith healers were interviewed on a pre-designed questionnaire.

Results: Faith healers showed good psychiatric knowledge with lack of mental illness stigma which was compatible with their educational level.

However, they attributed psychiatric disorders etiologically to .

psychosocial factors and supernatural forces.

Despite strong belief in the efficacy of Holy Quran in the treatment, they more often than not refer their patients to consult mental health professionals and showed interest to work in mental health hospitals only after they receive adequate training in psychiatry.

Conclusion: Trained faith healers may be of value in offering mental and spiritual health services to clients with mental problems, and also in destigmatizing mental illnesses.