Knowledge and attitude toward psychiatric disorders among university students, Taif, Saudi Arabia

Dr. Yasir.A.Altuwairqi; Dr.Ayman Abdelbaky; Atheer Abdulraheem Alsufyani; Omar Ahmed Asiri; Sara Ahmed Ali Assiri

Volume : VII, Issue : III, March - 2018

Knowledge and attitude toward psychiatric disorders among university students, Taif, Saudi Arabia

Dr. Yasir. A. Altuwairqi, Dr. Ayman Abdelbaky, Atheer Abdulraheem Alsufyani, Omar Ahmed Asiri, Sara Ahmed Ali Assiri

Abstract :

Background: How we should deal with a psychiatric patient? in order to help, support and use their energies as a productive part of the society first we need to understand the mentality and attitude of the educated members of the community toward psychiatric disorders.

Objective: to assess the attitude of male and female university students toward psychiatric disorders in Taif university, KSA by assessing the level of stigma , the level of fear from psychiatric patients and participant�s opinion about the duties could be given to a psychiatric patient. Also see the participants� knowledge about the causes, treatment and the available facilities for psychiatric disorders.

Methods: A cross sectional observational study was conducted as a pre–designed questionnaire with a yesno ended questions, partially using CAMI scale (Community Attitudes toward the Mentally Ill) with modification .It was randomly published among 3 different University colleges in Taif, Saudi Arabia . A total of 381 participants between the age of 20 to 25, 169 from College of Medicine 68 male and 101 female , 109 from College of Computing and Information Technology , 50 male and 59 female ,103 from College of Art– Foreign Language Department 47 males and 56 females . data collection was conducted from the 5th of Feuary 2017 . we used IMB SPSS Statistics program for windows version 16 for data analysis.

Results:80 ( 20,9 %) of students believe that one of the most important causes of mental illness is spiritual as evil eye or sorcery . 251 ( 65,8%) of students think that mentally ill doesn�t have any signs and looks just like a normal person and 298 (78.2%) Think that the best cure for psychiatric disorders is spiritual treatment (Quran or Ruqyah ) but 38 ( 9.9%) believe that psychiatric disorders couldnot be cured. 81 (21.2%) Think it is socially not accepted to go to a psychiatric doctor, 134 (35.1%) have a shape of fear from the mentally ill as speaking to them, 167 ( 43.8%) think psychiatric disorders is an obstacle against success.