This paper describes the historical background, development and current status of psychiatric services in Kuwait. In addition, present practices and the outlook for further development of services are outlined.

Kuwait is a rich oil-producing country with a gross domestic product (GDP) of US$74.6 billion and an area of 17 820 km2. The mid-year population of Kuwait in 2007 was 3 399 637, of whom 30.75% were Kuwaitis, while expatriates, mainly from the Indian subcontinent (39%) and other Arabs (22%), made up the rest (Public Authority for Civil Information, 2007).

The Ministry of Health (MOH) has, over the years, been the principal care provider in the country. Although a number of private hospitals (albeit regulated by the MOH) have taken up some of the load, delivery of psychiatric services is limited to the MOH hospitals. The health services are provided through five general hospitals (one for each health region), nine specialised hospitals, 78 primary healthcare clinics and 38 diabetes clinics, distributed uniformly across the country (Ministry of Health, 2006).

Prevalent beliefs and practices

Like all Arab communities, Kuwaitis believe in spiritual (jinni) possession, the ‘evil eye’ and sorcery; these are not uncommonly invoked to explain changes in human behaviour (El-Islam, 1982). For example, obsessional ruminations are invariably attributed to the devil. Faith healers (‘sheikhs’ or ‘masters’) are the first source of help chosen by many Kuwaitis. They may recite Koranic verses, tie written verses to the patient's body in the form of amulets or offer the ‘washings’ of the verses (written on a plate) for drinking. Elaborate anti-sorcery practices by native healers involve the use of ‘traces’ of material that belong to the victim, to negotiate disengagement by the responsible adverse spirit. Cautery is used to counter painful conditions and also to drive away the jinni, presumed to have overwhelmed the minds of psychotic individuals. Many patients afflicted with mental illness never get to see a psychiatrist and are instead dealt with by faith healers.

Historical background

The MOH in 1950 first decided to provide psychiatric care for people who are mentally ill. The first asylum was built in Sharq, a district next to Kuwait City.