Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42829659›Full record

ArticleJournal of education and health promotion2026

Exploring the convergence of faith healing practices with biopsychosocial interventions for mental health: A qualitative study among faith healers in Madhya Pradesh, India.

Priyanka Das, Sharad Tiwari, Parmeshwar Satpathy, Swati Wadhwa, Rahul Sharma, Samiksha Sahu

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of education and health promotion, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Priyanka DasDepartment of Health and Medical Education, National Health Mission, Madhya Pradesh, India.
Sharad TiwariMental Health Division, National Health Mission, Madhya Pradesh, India.
Parmeshwar SatpathyDepartment of Community Medicine, Dr. B.C. Roy Multi-Speciality Medical Research Centre, IIT Kharagpur, Kharagpur, West Bengal, India.
Swati WadhwaDistrict Mental Health Program, District Hospital, Neemuch, Madhya Pradesh, India.
Rahul SharmaDistrict Mental Health Program, District Hospital, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India.
Samiksha SahuDepartment of Psychiatry, Gandhi Medical College, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundFaith healing, a practice deeply rooted in cultural and religious beliefs, remains a significant healthcare approach worldwide, especially in regions like India, where mental health stigma is pervasive. Despite advances in psychiatric care, many individuals still seek the services of faith healers for mental health issues, delaying access to appropriate medical treatment. The study aims to understand the perspectives of Faith Healers on mental health, examine their practices and beliefs, and explore the feasibility of integrating faith healing with psychiatric care to enhance mental health outcomes in Madhya Pradesh. MATERIALS AND

methodsThis qualitative study was conducted across selected districts of Madhya Pradesh, India. The participants were Faith Healers' who were interviewed by Psychiatrists from "Mankaksh" (District Mental Health Units) between July 2022 and February 2023. In-depth interviews (IDIs) were conducted with 24 faith healers using a predefined interview guide. These IDIs were later analyzed. Thematic analysis was used to identify key themes from the data.

resultsThe following four themes emerged: Reason for working in the profession, Perception regarding issues of disciples, View on integration of Faith healing and Psychiatric treatment, and Interventions suggested. Opinions on integrating faith healing with psychiatric care varied, with some expressing openness to collaboration, while others remained skeptical of medical interventions.

conclusionsThe study highlights the complex relationship between faith healing and mental health care in Madhya Pradesh. Collaboration between faith healers and mental health practitioners is essential for developing holistic care models that respect cultural beliefs while ensuring evidence-based treatment.

Indexed as

Faith healerhealth-seeking behaviorIndiaintegrationmental healthpsychiatric carestigmasuperstitiontraditional healer

Identifiers

PMID42829659
PMCPMC13633777

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.