Depressive symptoms among clients attending monk healers and primary care clinics in Thailand: a comparative follow-up study

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to conduct a comparative follow-up assessment of clients with depressive symptoms attending monk healers or primary care clinics in Thailand. Methods: Consecutively attending clients of three monk healing and three primary care centres who screened positive (a score of 9 or more) on the Primary Health Questionnaire (PHQ)-9 at the study site were followed up at 3 months after baseline assessment. Results: In 3 monk healer sites, 448 clients agreed to be screened with the PHQ-9 for depression, and 94 screened positive, and in 3 health centres 582 clients agreed to be screened, and 92 screened positive for depressive symptoms on the PHQ-9. In 2 monk healing sites, 79 clients (84%) were followed up at 3 months, and in 3 health centres, 79 clients (85.9%) were followed up at 3 months. At 3-month follow-up, mixed modelling found significant interaction effects (a time-by-condition interaction, i.e., between-group changes) on depression scores (P = <0.001). Depressive symptoms significantly decreased over time, but there was no significant difference in decline between the two groups. Conclusion: Clients attending monk healers decreased more in depressive scores compared to clients attending primary care centres, though there was no group effect with respect to number of depressed clients.

Predictors of and healthcare utilisation of depressive symptoms among middle-aged and older adults in Thailand: a national cross-sectional community-based study in 2015

“…Previous studies have shown increased use of traditional and complementary practitioners for depressive symptoms, 42 possibly due to the better perceived management of depressive symptoms by complementary practitioners than conventional practitioners. 43 The findings of healthcare utilisation are consistent with previous research in Korea and China in terms of outpatient clinic visits and hospital admission. 4 19 20 In univariable analyses, we further found a positive association between depressive symptoms and and medical check-up, while the Korea study 19 found a negative association with medical check-up.…”

“…Our study found that depressive symptoms was associated with increased odds of hospital inpatient, hospital outpatient, health centre outpatient and traditional medicine practitioner utilisation. Previous studies have shown increased use of traditional and complementary practitioners for depressive symptoms,42 possibly due to the better perceived management of depressive symptoms by complementary practitioners than conventional practitioners 43. The findings of healthcare utilisation are consistent with previous research in Korea and China in terms of outpatient clinic visits and hospital admission 4 19 20.…”

Senior Mental Health Scenarios in Thai Buddhist Contexts: A Qualitative Study

“…These findings align with prior research, which has highlighted the crucial involvement of monks as invaluable resources in delivering essential mental health support, a role that has earned substantial trust from the wider societal realm (Chaisitida 2005;Pengpid and Peltzer 2020). Individuals who sought therapy from monk healers experienced a reduction in depressive scores (Pengpid and Peltzer 2021). However, individuals tend to seek mental health support that is in line with their unique personality traits (Çekici 2019).…”

The Psychological Well-Being of Southeast Asian Frontline Healthcare Workers during COVID-19: A Multi-Country Study

“…The internal consistency of the measure in this study is high, with Cronbach’s α = 0.91. The scale has been used in our countries of interest [ 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 ].…”