By IRNA,
Islamabad : Over 1.6 million people in Pakistan’s 160 million population are suffering from psychiatric disorders, the country’s top psychiatrist said Friday.
Dr. Darya Khan Leghari said Pakistan is rated as number 12 in the world where the people are suffering from different psychological and mental disorders and require due attention so that they could be brought back to resume a normal life.
He said there are increasing signs of psychological and mental disorders among the children, adding that a survey revealed that five to ten percent of the children of the country are suffering from different kinds of disorders, which must be addressed at the primary level.
A detailed survey of the schools of different parts of the country identified signs of psychological and mental disorders among ten percent of the students, said Dr. Darya Khan.
The psychiatrist said that the issue could be addressed only through combined efforts of parents, teachers and doctors.
He said that the major psychiatric disorder in which patients lose touch with reality is called psychosis.
Psychiatric disorders are complicated due to their changing nature, he said, adding that severity of symptoms may vary from time to time.
Dr. Darya Khan said that the treatment of psychological and mental disorders is though a long term process, however, the same could be completely addressed among 20 percent of victims through proper medical care for at least one year.
The ten percent of the total victims could also live normal life, if due attention was paid to them at the time of fits, he added.