Integrating Islamic input in undergraduate psychiatry teaching: IIUM experience

• Main Authors: Md Rosli, Najwa Hanim, Md Tahir, Mohd Faiz, Mat Zain, Nora, Mohd Noor, Hanisah, Abdullah, Kartini
• Format: Conference or Workshop Item
• Language: English; English
• Published: 2016
• Subjects: L Education (General); R Medicine (General)
• Online Access: http://irep.iium.edu.my/52219/12/faiz%20Poster%20iimp%20mrs%20undergrad%20psy.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/52219/23/52219_Integrating%20Islamic%20Input%20in%20Undergraduate.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/52219/; http://iiumedic.net/web/events/mrs2016/

Since the recognition of psychiatry as a medical specialty back in the 19th century, many theories, therapies and treatment were much influenced by Western findings and practice. Sigmund Freud recorded in his book, “Future of an Illusion”, that he portrayed faith in God as a “collective neurosis”. However, in 2012, the Royal College of Psychiatrists (London) affirmed the value of considering spirituality and religion as a part of good clinical practice and to benefit both the patient and the psychiatrist throughout the treatment period. In the Malaysian context, the general postgraduate training of psychiatrists in Malaysia do not specifically encourage integration of religious or spiritual values. At IIUM, we feel that the integration of Islamic views and practice in psychiatry should start early at the beginning of the undergraduate training, corresponding to the vision and mission of IIUM in particular, integrating Islamic revealed knowledge and value. At IIUM the students are exposed to basic and essential psychology during their first year. Later during the fourth year they are introduced to psychiatry proper for a short two weeks. It is when they are in their final year that they go through an extensive and comprehensive 7 weeks posting covering all major topics and disorders in psychiatry. In this paper, we would like to share our experience throughout the 15 years this program has been running and discuss the challenges, limitations and future expectation in order to realize the objective of integrating Islamic input in the psychiatry curriculum in IIUM hence producing doctors who are may then treat and heal patients holistically; physically, psychologically and spiritually.