Mental health in the Middle East
[2] To accurately evaluate and understand the mental health issues of the Middle East, one must take into account the geographic, historical, cultural, and social influences of that part of the world.
The tenets of the Islamic faith, and its strict purpose, certainly have served as both a guide and a hindrance to the practices' of mental health care providers in the Middle East.
In the Islamic era, those with mental illness were not known to have endured any forms of torture, nor were they ostracized; this was due to the belief that possession by a good Muslim genie was possible.
For instance, ancient Iran had distinct medical specialties, including healers focused on the body (tan-pezeshk) and those specializing in the psyche (ravan-pezeshk), which are equivalent to contemporary psychiatrists.
[1] Historical records include narratives about Masud Khan, born into a Muslim feudal royalty family in Iran in 1924, who likely suffered from undiagnosed bipolar disorder.
[6] Studies have shown that in the Arab region, people tend to link mental health issues with cultural or religious beliefs.
[9] The impact of mental health varies throughout the Middle East due to some parts facing wars, economic difficulties, and sociopolitical unrest.
[10] Society's attitude towards mental health plays a substantial role in seeking help, compared to the service availability in developing countries.
[13] These attributions underscore the intricacies involved in comprehending and addressing mental disorders in Middle Eastern culture, highlighting the importance of culturally-sensitive initiatives to reduce stigma.
Signs and symptoms of zār may include dissociative episodes, unexpected laughing, yelling, or singing, or even patients hitting their heads against a wall.
Those under the influence of the zār may refuse to eat or carry out activities of daily living, and may develop an extended interaction with the possessing spirit.
[15] The "evil eye" is also known as ʿayn al-ḥasūd (عين الحسود)" and is a belief that certain individuals have the power to cause harm or bad luck to others through their gaze.
According to Ibn Sina, Islamic medicine treats mental illness as a somatic ailment, employing various treatments such as baths, massage, bloodletting, leeches, cupping, cautery, music, and drug therapies involving purgatives, emetics, and opium.
[19] In Saudi Arabia and other countries in the Gulf region, it is common to consult faith healers or Shaykhs before seeking professional healthcare.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is, unfortunately, common in the Middle East due to the myriad conflicts experienced by people in the region.
The formal diagnostic criteria for both the DSM-IV-TR and ICD-10) indicate that symptoms last for more than one month and cause significant impairment in social, occupational, and/or other important areas of functioning.
Various factors contribute to mental health issues in the region, including sociopolitical unrest, economic challenges, and the transitional phase into adulthood.
Instances of wars, mass protests, regime changes, and political instability create an atmosphere of insecurity and economic stagnation, elevating the risk of depression among young adults.
[29] In ongoing war circumstances like Gaza, where the land is under siege, people are unable to experience normal disorders such as PTSD properly.
The Palestinian children being treated for mental disorders have a high chance of relapsing due to the ongoing stress and anxiety that surrounds them.
