Treatment of depression by traditional faith healers in Nepal: A qualitative study

Abstract

This study explored the assessment and treatment practices of traditional faith healers for patients with depression, as well as their beliefs about the causes of depression, in Nepal. In-depth interviews were conducted using a narrative approach to allow participants to share their experiences and perspectives through storytelling. A vignette depicting a woman with depression symptoms was used to investigate traditional faith healers' beliefs about the character's health issues. The interview guide included questions about the assessment and treatment procedures of traditional faith healers for the character in the vignette. The interviews were conducted between January and July 2023 with 12 traditional faith healers. Traditional faith healers hold diverse beliefs about the causes of depression. Some attribute it to supernatural forces or curses, such as the spirit of a husband or ancestor, while others link it to mental stress, personal and social factors, and lack of support. They employ various methods to assess and treat depression, including examining the patient's face, using rice grains, invoking spirits, creating statues from clay or wheat flour, employing blowing techniques, listening to their suffering, performing death rituals to remove ancestral spirits, shouting, and referring them to hospitals. Collaborating with traditional healers, who act as gateways to mental health care, could improve early detection and treatment of depression. Some traditional healing practices may be helpful for depression, so involving them in identifying and supporting individuals with depression could be beneficial. Future research should evaluate the effectiveness of traditional healing treatments and explore patients' views on these treatments.