The study attributes such perceptions to media which portrays psychiatrists in poor light, while faith healers are shown as having the power to heal. "Many respondents believed prayer alone is sufficient treatment for psychiatric disorders," said Dr Tandon. Two-thirds of psychiatric patients attributed their symptoms of schizophrenia to religious causes. Psychiatrists say they don't discourage magico-religious modes of treatment as long as patients receive simultaneous help from qualified doctors. Many of my patients follow both simultaneously with positive results," said Dr R Tara, director of Chennai-based Schizophrenia Research Foundation.

Source: Times of India November 11, 2017 00:17 UTC