A Descriptive Study on Traditional Therapies Used by Patients with Schizophrenia

Abstract

 In schizophrenia, the search for traditional therapies has a critical impact on early diagnosis, adherence to medication and the course of the disorder. Understanding the perspective of schizophrenic patients regarding traditional therapy is important to ensure their adherence to medical treatment. The present study aims to describe the traditional therapies used by patients with schizophrenia. This is a cross-sectional and descriptive study conducted with 180 schizophrenic patients who applied to a Community Mental Health Center. The sample was selected with the convenience sampling method, and data collection was performed by means of a ‘Demographic Information Form’ and a ‘Traditional Therapy Applications Form’.  The mean age of the participants was 43.59±12.61 years, and the mean duration of the disorder was 13.10±9.28 years. While the majority of patients reported using regular pharmacological treatment, 36.7% reported receiving traditional therapy. After receiving a diagnosis of schizophrenia, the participants mostly had amulets/charms made for them (72.7%) and preferred visiting a religious practitioner/undergoing exorcism (69.7%). There was a significant difference between the use of traditional therapies and the age, marital status, education level, smoking and exercise habits (p<0.05).  It has been observed that a high proportion of patients with schizophrenia receive medical treatment, and they also apply to traditional therapy practices. It appears advisable to implement programs to inform patients and their relatives/caregivers about the effectiveness of traditional therapies and the effects of such therapy on medical treatment.