The successful role of Chinese psychologists in combating the psychological crisis brought on by the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak is helping to change attitudes about the scientific validity of psychiatry.

A special anti-SARS team comprised of experts from the psychology department of Peking University and the university's psychiatric health research institute have played an active role in maintaining stability in the campus.

Wang Cixin, a senior student from the psychology department of Peking University, said that SARS had caused many students to became so panicky at the epidemic that they developed psychiatric problems.

"Some of the students were too afraid to talk to others or go to classrooms and libraries. Some washed hands innumerable times every day. Some went nuts about various remedies against SARS."

Wang Dengfeng, professor with the psychology department of Peking University and also vice-secretary of the university committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), said that a healthy psychological attitude was indispensable against the disease.

A series of essays analyzing the harms of rumors and panic to people's physical and psychological health has been published in the hope of helping teachers and students adjust.

Psychiatry as a scientific field had a late start in China, which has contributed to the doubts many Chinese people have held over its validity.

But as society has developed, more people have become aware of the importance of mental health. Many have turned to psychologists to help ease pressure brought on by SARS.

Many teachers and students have had their qualms settled through on-line psychological consultations or lectures about SARS. The psychology department of Peking University has also opened a special anti-SARS forum on its website to collect students' problems, which will be published later accompanied by analysis from experts.

A psychological assistance hotline also opened during the SARS crisis to help nervous citizens, isolated patients and their families, and front-line medical workers.

Experts usually give specific advice, informing people of scientific prevention measures, and how to distinguish factual information from rumors and fake news.

Meanwhile, psychologists' opinions have also contributed to the decisions of college and university authorities in the fight against SARS.

They have advocated frequent and extensive publication of scientific and authoritative information on SARS within the campuses, which has helped control the spread of SARS.

The psychiatric fatigue currently overwhelming the public after the alleviation of the epidemic was considered a result of long-term mental tension.

Psychologists stressed that there should be no relaxation of warnings and prevention work in case of a recurrence of the epidemic.

(Xinhua News Agency May 29, 2003)