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Explanatory Models of Common Mental Disorders among Traditional Healers and Their Patients in Rural South India

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  • B. Ravi Shankar
  • B. Saravanan

    (Department of Psychiatry, Christian Medical College, Vellore, India.)

  • K. S. Jacob

    (Department of Psychiatry, Christian Medical College, Vellore, India ksjacob@cmcvellore.ac.in)

Abstract

Objective: To delineate concepts, categories, causes of common mental disorders (CMD) and their treatment as understood by traditional healers practicing in rural South India. Methods: Key informant interviews, focus group discussions and in-depth interviews with traditional and faith healers were conducted to identify concepts, causes, presentations and treatments for CMD. Patients attending clinics conducted by these healers were interviewed using the Tamil versions of the Revised Clinical Interview Schedule (CIS-R) and the Short Explanatory Model Interview (SEMI) in order to identify CMD and understand their explanatory models of illness respectively. Results: Different terms, concepts and treatments were used by traditional and faith healers. A total of 72 patients were interviewed using the CIS-R and the SEMI. Thirty (42.3%) satisfied the International Classification of Diseases-10 Primary Care Version criteria for CMD. Mixed anxiety depression was the most common diagnosis (40%). Conclusions: An understanding of local patient perspectives of common mental disorders will allow modern medicine to provide culturally sensitive and locally acceptable health care.

Suggested Citation

  • B. Ravi Shankar & B. Saravanan & K. S. Jacob, 2006. "Explanatory Models of Common Mental Disorders among Traditional Healers and Their Patients in Rural South India," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 52(3), pages 221-233, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:socpsy:v:52:y:2006:i:3:p:221-233
    DOI: 10.1177/0020764006067215
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. M. Pothen & A. Kuruvilla & K. Philip & A. Joseph & K. S. Jacob, 2003. "Common Mental Disorders Among Primary Care Attenders in Vellore, South India: Nature, Prevalence and Risk Factors," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 49(2), pages 119-125, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Sandeep Grover & Jitender Aneja & Akhilesh Sharma & Rama Malhotra & Sannidhya Varma & Debasish Basu & Ajit Avasthi, 2014. "Explanatory models of somatoform disorder patients attending a psychiatry outpatient clinic: A study from North India," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 60(5), pages 492-498, August.
    2. Kaiser, Bonnie N. & Haroz, Emily E. & Kohrt, Brandon A. & Bolton, Paul A. & Bass, Judith K. & Hinton, Devon E., 2015. "“Thinking too much”: A systematic review of a common idiom of distress," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 147(C), pages 170-183.
    3. Helen Charles & S.D. Manoranjitham & K.S. Jacob, 2007. "Stigma and Explanatory Models Among People With Schizophrenia and Their Relatives in Vellore, South India," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 53(4), pages 325-332, July.
    4. Marta Elliott & Robyn Maitoza & Erik Schwinger, 2012. "Subjective accounts of the causes of mental illness in the USA," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 58(6), pages 562-567, November.
    5. Deepa S Joy & SD Manoranjitham & P Samuel & KS Jacob, 2017. "Explanatory models and distress in primary caregivers of patients with acute psychotic presentations: A study from South India," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 63(7), pages 563-568, November.
    6. Jerome Wright & Stephanie Common & Felix Kauye & Chikayiko Chiwandira, 2014. "Integrating community mental health within primary care in southern Malawi: A pilot educational intervention to enhance the role of health surveillance assistants," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 60(2), pages 155-161, March.

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