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.
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