Table 2

Participant's beliefs concerning the cause of schizophrenic disorders (divided into six categories) (n = 404)


Main reason
Possible reason
Not likely
Definitely not

N (%)
N (%)
N (%)
N (%)

Biological causes
Mental illness
121 (30.0)
122 (30.2)
67 (16.6)
94 (23.3)
Hereditary/genetic
36 (8.9)
122 (30.3)
93 (23.1)
152 (37.7)
Weak mental constitution
91 (22.5)
143 (35.4)
64 (15.8)
106 (26.2)
Psychosocial stressors
Marital problems
44 (11.0)
154 (38.4)
60 (15.0)
143 (35.7)
Work stress
70 (17.3)
149 (36.9)
83 (20.5)
102 (25.2)
Busy lifestyle
35 (8.7)
102 (25.2)
113 (28.0)
154 (38.1)
Unemployment
78 (19.3)
122 (30.2)
67 (16.6)
137 (33.9)
Failure in love
62 (15.4)
143 (35.6)
67 (16.7)
130 (32.3)
Social Issues
Loneliness
100 (24.8)
141 (34.9)
62 (15.3)
101 (25.0)
Bad upbringing
38 (9.4)
102 (25.2)
97 (24.0)
167 (41.3)
Sexual abuse during childhood
24 (6.0)
100 (24.9)
97 (24.2)
180 (44.9)
Personality Issues
Anxious personality
69 (17.1)
146 (36.2)
82 (20.3)
106 (26.3)
Attention seeking behavior
44 (10.9)
145 (36.0)
103 (25.6)
111 (27.5)
Alcohol or other addictions
31 (7.7)
117 (29.0)
74 (18.3)
182 (45.0)
Religious reasons
Punishment for sins
63 (15.6)
104 (25.7)
83 (20.5)
154 (38.1)
Fate
36 (8.9)
64 (15.9)
93 (23.1)
210 (52.1)
Gods will
130 (32.3)
67 (16.7)
65 (16.2)
140 (34.8)
Superstitious beliefs
Black magic
37 (9.2)
79 (19.6)
76 (18.9)
211 (52.4)
Taweez
27 (6.7)
79 (19.6)
90 (22.3)
208 (51.5)
Nazar
22 (5.5)
78 (19.4)
101 (25.1)
202 (50.1)
Possessed by bad spirits
27 (6.7)
105 (26.1)
80 (19.9)
190 (47.3)
Extraterrestrial influence
20 (5.0)
57 (14.1)
87 (21.6)
239 (59.3)

Each row totals to 404 (100%)

Zafar et al. BMC Psychiatry 2008 8:56   doi:10.1186/1471-244X-8-56