LAHORE, April 19: People should be informed that mental disorders are as curable as physical ailments, said the participants of a panel discussion on `Mental illnesses or possession by demons’ here on Saturday. At the discussion, arranged in connection with the Fifth International Symposium on Psychiatric Updates, Media and Public Awareness at a hotel, King Edward Medical University’s Prof Dr Riaz Bhatti said in his opening remarks that anxiety, depression and schizophrenia were not being understood as illnesses.

Lahore High Court’s former chief justice Allah Nawaz said people suffering from mental disorders should be given better environment along with medicines for their quick recovery. He said a study of anthropology would be of great help to physicians dealing with such patients.

Poet and columnist Amjad Islam Amjad said religious thoughts played an important role in the chemistry of human beings. “A human being not merely lives in the modern day world of science and technology but also has roots in the primitive society. All modern sciences were developed in the West when religion had become an individual instead of collective matter.”British-Pakistan Psychiatric Association founder Dr Akram Makhdoom said that magic and possession by demons were two different things with the latter existing only in folklores.

Panelist from New Delhi Dr Sanjay Chugh said awareness level had phenomenally increased in India during the last decade or so and media had played a significant role in this respect by demystifying myths and superstitions.

Columnist Masood Asha’ar, Prof Dr Riaz Taj and Dr Farooq also expressed their views on the issue.

Inaugurating the symposium earlier, Federal Minister for Narcotics Control and Women’s Development Nazar Muhammad Gondal said medical disciplines should make joint ventures to make up for the shortage of psychiatrists. He said every individual in society was facing stress nowadays. The type, magnitude and duration of the stress might be different, but its effects on individuals were almost the same. Efforts were needed not only to prevent psychiatric disorders, but also to reduce the stigma attached with mental diseases.

Gondal said the psychological, political and financial challenges emerging after 9/11 put the nation under immense pressure and stress. The resulting psycho-social pressures led to various psychiatric disorders, including drug abuse.

Former King Edward Medical College University vice-chancellor Prof Mumtaz Hasan said anxiety and depression resulting from failure in advancement in society were causing psychological disorders. Psychological disorders were difficult to diagnose because patients apparently looked normal. People suffering from fits of hysteria were often considered to be under the influence of demons.

Makhdoom said psychological disorders were on the rise in Muslim states because of oppressive regimes.

The Pakistan Psychiatric Society had organised the symposium.