Perception of faith healing among clients: A qualitative perspective

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Misla Nasarin KP and Farah Haris

University of Calicut, India

: Int J Ment Health Psychiatry

Abstract

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The present study aims to understand the perception of faith healing among clients. The study focused on how the clients perceive the faith healing, further focused on religiosity and faith healing and also to understand placebo effect and faith healing among participants. The participant of the present study consists of 25 female clients from Kannur district of Kerala (ages are in between 22 and 60), who were consulted the faith healer at least once. Semi-structured interview schedule and structured questionnaire were administered to the participants, which are prepared by the researchers. Content analysis and descriptive frequency results inferred that the client perceive, faith healing as a successful treatment method and they believed that the faith healers have a spiritual power and have a close contact with the God. The results also revealed that faith healing mainly works on placebo effect. Inferences of study can be applied, to aware the society about the unscientific side of faith healing, about the medical care system and medical ethics, helpful to make policies against unscientific practices and to ensure the rights of the citizens for getting appropriate treatment methods on both physical and mental illness.

Biography

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Misla Nasarin is a M. Sc. Student working in Department of Psychology at Farook College (Affiliated to University of Calicut), Kerala. Her area of interest includes Perspectives in Psychology.

E-mail: mizlanasrin007@gmail.com