Mental health practice in Arab countries

Abstract

The findings have implications for professional service delivery. Further research, intervention and activism are needed in the field of mental health systems in Arab countries to improve awareness of mental health problems. Further research is also needed regarding issues such as cultural competence and the suitability of mental health treatment and services for the non-Western communities in many Arab/Muslim countries.

Strengthening mental health care systems for Syrian refugees in Europe and the Middle East: integrating scalable psychological interventions in eight countries

“…In Jordan and Turkey, refugees are eligible to receive free access to mental health care facilities. In Middle Eastern countries, mental health care is largely confined to specialized psychiatric services for people with severe mental disorders (Alatas, Karaoglan, Arslan, & Yanik, 2009; Al-Krenawi, 2005). In addition to government health care services, international organizations and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) provide humanitarian support to refugees, such as cash, shelter, food, water, sanitation, and health services (Abo-Hilal & Hoogstad, 2013; El Chammay, Kheir, & Alaouie, 2013).…”

Post-traumatic stress disorder and attachment: possible links with borderline personality disorder

“…Such symptoms often predominate in the presentation of patients from the Middle East, Africa and the Far East who have complex PTSD (Al Krenawi 2005). The additional fact that these individuals often do not speak much English and that they feel so much shame in relation to their experiences of rape and torture makes the use of EMDR a very useful tool in their therapy.…”

Mental Health Stigma in the Muslim Community

“…Due to the lesser stigma of physical symptoms as well as cultural idioms revolving around the physical body, mental health problems are often expressed as physical symptoms (Al-Krenawi, 2005;Douki, Zaneb, Nasef, & Halbreich, 2007;El-Islam, 2008). In parallel, explicit mood symptoms such as hopelessness, self-deprecatory thoughts, and worthlessness, are uncommon; in particular, women ultimately diagnosed with depression frequently first present with "conversion" disorders and no self-recognition of psychological distress or sadness (Al-Krenawi & Graham, 2000).…”

“…In addition, normative cultural beliefs in the existence of jinn (evil spirits) may be confused with delusions of possession and control, and may prevent patients and family members from recognizing medical or psychiatric problems (El-Islam, 2008). Significant cultural differences with respect to gender may also put women at especially high risk of diagnosis and treatment of mental health problems in Muslim communities (Al-Krenawi, 2005).…”

“…Finally, research within transcultural psychiatry, cross-cultural psychology, and cultural anthropology concerning fundamentally different explanatory models for and conceptualizations of mental illness must be included (Al-Krenawi, 2005;Douki et al, 2007;El-Islam, 2008;Vanaleesin et al, 2007). Hypotheses stemming from predominantly Western research on the links be-tween stigma and different causal and treatment beliefs (e.g., Schomerus et al, 2012) must be investigated among diverse Muslim samples.…”