OBJECTIVE: To examine commonly held indigenous beliefs about mental illness, which often differ markedly from the biomedical models, among community health workers in rural South India. METHOD: Indigenous beliefs about chronic psychosis were elicited from community health workers. The Short Explanatory Model Interview formed the basis of the interview. RESULTS: A variety of indigenous beliefs, which contradicted the biomedical model, were elicited. A significant proportion of health workers did not recognize chronic psychosis as a disease condition, believing that it was caused by black magic, evil spirits and poverty, and felt that doctors could not help. CONCLUSION: The results of the study suggest that training programmes should elicit and discuss local beliefs prior to the teaching of the biomedical model of mental disorders.
OBJECTIVE: To examine commonly held indigenous beliefs about mental illness, which often differ markedly from the biomedical models, among community health workers in rural South India. METHOD: Indigenous beliefs about chronic psychosis were elicited from community health workers. The Short Explanatory Model Interview formed the basis of the interview. RESULTS: A variety of indigenous beliefs, which contradicted the biomedical model, were elicited. A significant proportion of health workers did not recognize chronic psychosis as a disease condition, believing that it was caused by black magic, evil spirits and poverty, and felt that doctors could not help. CONCLUSION: The results of the study suggest that training programmes should elicit and discuss local beliefs prior to the teaching of the biomedical model of mental disorders.
Authors: Balasubramanian Saravanan; K S Jacob; Shanthi Johnson; Martin Prince; Dinesh Bhugra; Anthony S David Journal: Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol Date: 2007-05-14 Impact factor: 4.328
Authors: Balasubramaniam Saravanan; K S Jacob; M G Deepak; Martin Prince; Anthony S David; Dinesh Bhugra Journal: Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol Date: 2007-12-15 Impact factor: 4.328
Authors: K S Jacob; R A Kallivayalil; A K Mallik; N Gupta; J K Trivedi; B N Gangadhar; K Praveenlal; V Vahia; T S Sathyanarayana Rao Journal: Indian J Psychiatry Date: 2013-01 Impact factor: 1.759