There are certain misconceptions about psychiatry that individuals were living with more than time simply because either they do not understand the nature of psychiatric illnesses or since they're firmly rooted within their cultural beliefs.

These beliefs have been shown to be inaccurate as they are really unfounded and can't be backed by scientific rationale. They've partially been accountable for the negligence a psychiatric patient may also be subjected to.

1. That psychiatric illness is special and various from physical illness: The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines Health as "a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing and not precisely the lack of disease or infirmity"

Illnesses therefore manifest in different forms. The physical illness manifests in type of headache, fever, pain, cough, etc. So also does psychiatric illness manifest in form of irrational behaviour. The above mentioned manifestations are known as the signs of a disease: it doesn't matter whether or not they are physical or else; a disease is definitely an illness.

2. Psychiatric patients are violent and dangerous: This isn't always true as quite a number of these patients are less violent than some of the people people who are perceived to be well.

Ventura Psychiatrist

3. Psychiatric patients never get well once they go to the market: This really is untrue as a lot of them have been picked from the market and brought to the hospital for treatment and they got well after proper management.

4. Psychiatric illness is really a punishment for your sins: Illnesses are caused by germs, poisons, hormonal imbalance, stress, genetic problem, etc. The same is true for mental illnesses. They aren't brought on by curses or sins: they're brought on by the afore-mentioned.

5. Psychiatric disease is incurable: Management of a psychiatric problem might take some time before the patient gets well. This is also true for diseases like peptic ulcer disease, tuberculosis, renal disease, cardiac disease, etc...

Mentally ill patients could suffer relapse as also observed in malaria, eczema, asthma, peptic ulcer, etc plus they may also have chronicity. Exactly the same happens in other forms of physical illnesses.

6. Psychiatric illness is infectious: psychiatric illness may be the safest to stay close to because they are not contagious. Unlike some types of physical illnesses, they are not transmitted through connection with the individual or through connection with bodily discharges.

7. Psychiatric nurses are only educated to handle psychiatric patients: This really is merely a specialization area. Every trained nurse has got the basic training in the care of patients and may work in any hospital or health care set up.

Ventura Psychiatry

8. Psychiatric illness is seasonal: This is incorrect. Patients may periodically have relapse however their sickness is not seasonal.

9. Psychiatric nurses become their sufferers: Environmental surroundings could affect one's behaviour somewhat. The exposure of the nurse to the mentally ill patients helps the nurse to develop emotionally and understand the importance of interpersonal relationship.

10. One becomes mentally ill if bitten with a psychiatric patient: The condition can't be transmitted through saliva or human bite. It is a disease of the mind and thus cannot infect another person.

The knowledge of these misconceptions would enable us relate better with a patient with mental illness and become well equipped to lend a helping hand whenever necessary to alleviate their plight.

There are specific misconceptions about psychiatry that people have lived with over the years due to the fact either they don't comprehend the nature of psychiatric illnesses or because they are firmly rooted in their cultural beliefs.

These beliefs have been proven to be inaccurate as they are really unfounded and can't be backed by scientific rationale. They have partially been responsible for the negligence a psychiatric patient is sometimes subjected to.

1. That psychiatric illness is special and different from physical illness: The planet Health Organisation (WHO) defines Health as "a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing and never merely the absence of disease or infirmity"

Illnesses therefore manifest in various forms. The physical illness manifests in form of headache, fever, pain, cough, etc. So also does psychiatric illness manifest in type of irrational behaviour. The above manifestations are classified as the signs of a disease: it doesn't matter whether or not they are physical or otherwise; an illness is an illness.

2. Psychiatric patients are violent and dangerous: This is not always true as a large number of these patients are less violent than some of those people who are perceived as being well.

Ventura Psychiatrist

3. Psychiatric patients never get well after they visit the market: This is untrue as a lot of them have been picked in the market place and taken towards the hospital for treatment plus they got well after proper management.

4. Psychiatric illness is a punishment for one's sins: Illnesses come from germs, poisons, hormonal imbalance, stress, genetic problem, etc. This is also true for mental illnesses. They are not caused by curses or sins: they are caused by any of the afore-mentioned.

5. Psychiatric disease is incurable: Management of a psychiatric problem could take a long time before the individual gets well. The same is true for diseases like peptic ulcer disease, tuberculosis, renal disease, cardiac disease, etc...

Mentally ill patients could suffer relapse as also seen in malaria, eczema, asthma, peptic ulcer, etc and they could also have chronicity. The same occurs in other kinds of physical illnesses.

6. Psychiatric illness is infectious: psychiatric illness is the safest to remain near to as they are not contagious. Unlike some forms of physical illnesses, they aren't transmitted through contact with the patient or through contact with bodily discharges.

7. Psychiatric nurses are just trained to handle psychiatric patients: This is only a specialization area. Every trained nurse has the basic learning the concern of patients and may work in any hospital or healthcare set up.

Ventura Psychiatry

8. Psychiatric illness is seasonal: This is incorrect. Patients may periodically have relapse but their sickness isn't seasonal.

9. Psychiatric nurses behave like their patients: The environment could affect one's behaviour in some ways. The exposure from the nurse towards the mentally ill patients helps the nurse to build up emotionally and comprehend the need for interpersonal relationship.

10. One becomes mentally ill if bitten by a psychiatric patient: The illness cannot be transmitted through saliva or human bite. It's a disease from the mind and thus cannot infect another person.

The understanding of these misconceptions would enable us relate better having a patient with mental illness and become well equipped to lend some help whenever essential to alleviate their plight.