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Explanatory models of mental illness in sub-Saharan Africa

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  • Patel, Vikram

Abstract

Knowledge of explanatory models of illness can be used to conduct cross-cultural epidemiological studies which, while being culturally sensitive, are also comparable with other studies. This paper reviews studies from sub-Saharan Africa which examine beliefs relating to mental illness. There is a rich diversity of beliefs, but within this diversity are a number of shared concepts. Thus, many African cultures do distinguish between the mind and body. The mind is cited as residing in the head as well as the heart or abdominal region. Spiritual causes are frequent explanations for mental illness. Though there are some similarities with biomedical concepts of mental illness, there are also significant variations. Psychotic illness is often recognized as 'madness' though emphasis is on behavioural symptoms rather than delusions; neurotic presentations are much more varied, often somatically defined and may not be considered to be mental illnesses at all. Emic psychiatric instruments need to be developed if future cross-cultural psychiatric research is to be both comparable and culturally valid.

Suggested Citation

  • Patel, Vikram, 1995. "Explanatory models of mental illness in sub-Saharan Africa," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 40(9), pages 1291-1298, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:40:y:1995:i:9:p:1291-1298
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    Cited by:

    1. Kokanovic, Renata & Dowrick, Christopher & Butler, Ella & Herrman, Helen & Gunn, Jane, 2008. "Lay accounts of depression amongst Anglo-Australian residents and East African refugees," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 66(2), pages 454-466, January.
    2. Mayston, Rosie & Frissa, Souci & Tekola, Bethlehem & Hanlon, Charlotte & Prince, Martin & Fekadu, Abebaw, 2020. "Explanatory models of depression in sub-Saharan Africa: Synthesis of qualitative evidence," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 246(C).
    3. Sathyanarayanan Doraiswamy & Anupama Jithesh & Sonia Chaabane & Amit Abraham & Karima Chaabna & Sohaila Cheema, 2020. "Perinatal Mental Illness in the Middle East and North Africa Region—A Systematic Overview," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(15), pages 1-20, July.
    4. Karasz, Alison, 2005. "Cultural differences in conceptual models of depression," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 60(7), pages 1625-1635, April.
    5. 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.
    6. Wendy Diana Shoesmith & Awang Faisal Bin Awang Borhanuddin & Pauline Yong Pau Lin & Ahmad Faris Abdullah & Norhayati Nordin & Beena Giridharan & Dawn Forman & Sue Fyfe, 2018. "Reactions to symptoms of mental disorder and help seeking in Sabah, Malaysia," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 64(1), pages 49-55, February.
    7. Syed Masud Ahmed & Shamim Hossain & Md. Kamruzzaman, 2010. "Exploring Explanatory Model of Malaria in Hill Tracts of Bangladesh: Perspective from Dighinala Upazila," Working Papers id:2709, eSocialSciences.
    8. Lisa K. Richardson & Ananda B. Amstadter & Dean G. Kilpatrick & Mario T. Gaboury & Trinh Luong Tran & Lam Tu Trung & Nguyen Thanh Tam & Tran Tuan & La Thi Buoi & Tran Thu Ha & Tran Duc Thach & Ron Aci, 2010. "Estimating Mental Distress in Vietnam: the Use of the SRQ-20," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 56(2), pages 133-142, March.
    9. Tekola, Bethlehem & Kinfe, Mersha & Girma, Fikirte & Hanlon, Charlotte & Hoekstra, Rosa A., 2020. "Perceptions and experiences of stigma among parents of children with developmental disorders in Ethiopia: A qualitative study," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 256(C).
    10. Teuton, Joanna & Dowrick, Christopher & Bentall, Richard P., 2007. "How healers manage the pluralistic healing context: The perspective of indigenous, religious and allopathic healers in relation to psychosis in Uganda," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 65(6), pages 1260-1273, September.
    11. Anakwenze, Obianujunwa, 2022. "The cultural sensitivity continuum of mental health interventions in Sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 306(C).
    12. Coker, Elizabeth M., 2005. "Selfhood and social distance: Toward a cultural understanding of psychiatric stigma in Egypt," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 61(5), pages 920-930, September.
    13. Nandini D. P. Sarkar & Azucena Bardaji & Koen Peeters Grietens & Joske Bunders-Aelen & Florence Baingana & Bart Criel, 2018. "The Social Nature of Perceived Illness Representations of Perinatal Depression in Rural Uganda," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-16, June.

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