Despite the availability of evidence-based treatments, the treatment gap for mental illnesses remains alarmingly high, especially in low- and middle-income countries like India. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that nearly 76–85% of people with severe mental disorders in these regions receive no treatment for their condition (WHO, 2013)
One of the major barriers to timely and effective psychiatric care is the continued reliance on faith healing practices, which include rituals, religious interventions, spiritual ceremonies, and traditional beliefs aimed at treating illness. In many parts of India, faith healers are often the first point of contact for individuals experiencing psychological distress (Sax, 2014). Deeply rooted in cultural, religious, and traditional belief systems, these practices are often preferred due to stigma associated with psychiatric illness, lack of awareness, limited access to mental health services, or a belief in supernatural causation of mental disorders (Sebastian et al., 2020).
While not all faith healing practices are harmful, many can delay access to psychiatric care, worsen prognosis, or even cause direct harm to the patient (Gureje et al., 2015). Studies have shown that patients who first seek help from traditional or religious healers often present to psychiatric services at later stages of illness, leading to poorer outcomes, chronicity, and impaired functioning (Adeosun et al., 2013).
There is a dearth of systematic data from India on the prevalence and nature of faith healing practices among psychiatric patients, particularly from hospital-based settings. Understanding these patterns is critical for formulating targeted interventions, improving mental health literacy, and designing culturally sensitive psychiatric services. Additionally, identifying sociodemographic correlates may help in recognizing populations at risk of delayed or harmful treatment practices.
The present cross-sectional study aimed to assess the prevalence and patterns of faith-healing practices among psychiatric patients attending a tertiary care hospital, along with associated sociodemographic and clinical correlates. The findings revealed that a substantial proportion of patients (25%) had sought faith-based interventions prior to psychiatric consultation, highlighting the continued influence of traditional belief systems in health-seeking behavior.
75% of those who sought faith healing reported no improvement or deterioration in their symptoms, whereas only a minority perceived transient relief.
Niveditha
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