Superstitious, the beliefs in supernatural causes of events are common all around world. In our society (Iran) many psychiatric patients especially in rural areas attribute their mental illness to supernatural causes. In previous study, authors showed 77.8% of patients in Beheshti psychiatric hospital, Kerman, Iran had superstitious beliefs. Many of our patients come from southern parts of province Kerman. This study was carried out in Jiroft, one of the important cities in the south part of Iran, we tried to evaluate the relationship between superstitious beliefs and anxiety and depression amon them.

In this research 388 individuals whom were randomly selected were evaluated with Beck's inventory for depression assessment, Cattel's questionnaire for evaluation of anxiety and, superstitious inventory which was standardized for research in Iran.

The mean score of depression ±SD was 15.1±10.8 and the mean score of anxiety were 6.7±1.6 in men and 6.4±21 in women respectively. Spearman's regression test showed that an increase in score of depression and anxiety results in an increase of score of questionnaire of superstitious beliefs (P<0.0001).

Superstitious beliefs could result in medication non compliance in psychiatric patients. From other point of view people with superstitious beliefs showed more depression and anxiety, so these patients are prone to be treated by local traditional healers than psychiatrists. Depression and anxiety are supposed to be 2 important factors in strengthening of superstitious beliefs.So depressed an anxious patients are more prone to delay treatment and seeking superstitious treatments.