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Differences between Western and African models of psychiatric illness


GM Behr
CW Allwood

Abstract

African and Western illness models differ dramatically. The overwhelming majority of black psychiatric patients are exposed to both Western psychiatry and traditional healing and somehow have to integrate the different approaches to causation and management of their problem. This case study compared the assessment of four psychiatric inpatients by a traditional healer with that of the psychiatrists. The study attempted to describe the similarities and differences in respect of method of assessment and causation, treatment and prognosis of the affliction. These preliminary findings seemed to indicate that the differences were far more significant than the similarities.

S Afr, Med J 1995; 85: 580-584

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eISSN: 2078-5135
print ISSN: 0256-9574