MYTH NO. 4: "SOMEBODY HAS DONE SOMETHING. THESE ARE 'BAHAR KA' INFLUENCES OF WITCHCRAFT, BAD OMENS, ETC."

Facts: Many people even today strongly believe that a depressed patient is under the bad influence of witchcraft, is possessed by a "devi or a shaitaan", and hence needs to be taken to those people who will free him from these influences and that doctors cannot do anything for such persons.

Scientifically there is no proof for such a rationale. The validity of this rationale can be judged from the fact that previously even small pox, measles etc were believed to have been caused by "devi". Today it is common knowledge that these are due to viruses and can be effectively controlled with vaccination and modern medicine. Similarly, it has been proven that Depressive Disease is primarily due to chemical changes in the brain and can be cured with proper treatment. Hence, rather than wasting time in going to the above people, starting scientific treatment early will yield much better results.