Razali S M, Khan U A, Hasanah C I
Department of Psychiatry, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kelantan, Malaysia.
Acta Psychiatr Scand. 1996 Oct;94(4):229-33. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0447.1996.tb09854.x.
The concept of aetiology of mental illness in 134 Malay patients was investigated by means of a 20-item checklist. About 53% of the patients attributed their illnesses to supernatural agents. Witchcraft and possession by evil spirits were regarded as common causes of illness. The number of patients who believed in supernatural causes of their mental illness was significantly higher among those who had consulted bomohs (Malay traditional healers) than among those who had not consulted them. The belief that mental illness is caused by supernatural agents is firmly held by bomohs, who reinforce this notion in those who seek their advice. Belief in supernatural causes of mental illness was not significantly associated with age, gender, level of education or occupation of the patients. Patients who believed in supernatural causes of mental illness were also found to show poor drug compliance, and the number of such patients at 6 months follow-up was significantly lower than the corresponding figure for those who did not believe in supernatural causes. The importance of understanding the patients' cultural background when treating psychiatric patients is highlighted.
通过一份包含20个条目的清单，对134名马来患者的精神疾病病因概念进行了调查。约53%的患者将其疾病归因于超自然因素。巫术和被恶灵附身被视为常见的病因。咨询过巫医（马来传统治疗师）的患者中，认为精神疾病由超自然因素导致的人数显著多于未咨询过巫医的患者。巫医坚信精神疾病是由超自然因素引起的，并在寻求其建议的患者中强化这一观念。精神疾病由超自然因素引起的信念与患者的年龄、性别、教育程度或职业无显著关联。还发现，相信精神疾病由超自然因素导致的患者药物依从性较差，在6个月随访时，这类患者的数量显著低于不相信超自然因素的患者。这突出了治疗精神科患者时了解患者文化背景的重要性。
