The Story of Selvi and Gopalan. The Last Resort: Why Patients with Severe Mental Disorders go to Therapeutic Shrines In India. From the Book- Restoring Mental Health in India: Pluralistic Therapies and Concepts

Abstract

The case study explores various pertinent questions pertaining to people with mental disorders and the therapeutic route their family members choose. Besides, it explores when and why religious therapy is chosen for treatment of mental disorders and place of religious therapy. Why people visit therapeutic shrines and reasons for choosing religious therapy. The case study also deliberates upon the practice of Psychiatry and history of various treatment practices for patients with mental disorders involving double treatment combining religious therapy and medicine. It illuminates medical pluralism, stereotyping gender question, religion and science.