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

IF 4.1 Q1 PSYCHIATRY SSM. Mental health Pub Date : 2025-03-11 DOI:10.1016/j.ssmmh.2025.100425
Nagendra P. Luitel , Bishnu Lamichhane , Prakriti Koirala , Poonam Sainju , Amshu Ghimire , Kamal Gautam , Mark JD. Jordans , Brandon A. Kohrt
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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.
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本研究探讨了尼泊尔传统信仰治疗师对抑郁症患者的评估和治疗方法,以及他们对抑郁症病因的看法。研究采用叙事法进行了深入访谈,让参与者通过讲故事的方式分享他们的经历和观点。访谈中使用了一个小故事,描述了一名有抑郁症状的妇女,以调查传统信仰治疗师对该人物健康问题的看法。访谈指南中的问题包括传统信仰治疗师对小故事中人物的评估和治疗程序。访谈于 2023 年 1 月至 7 月间进行,共采访了 12 位传统信仰治疗师。传统信仰治疗师对抑郁症的成因持有不同的看法。一些人将抑郁症归因于超自然力量或诅咒,如丈夫或祖先的灵魂,而另一些人则将其与精神压力、个人和社会因素以及缺乏支持联系在一起。他们采用各种方法来评估和治疗抑郁症,包括检查患者的面部、使用米粒、召唤神灵、用粘土或小麦粉制作雕像、使用吹气技术、倾听他们的痛苦、举行死亡仪式以去除祖先的灵魂、大喊大叫以及将他们转诊到医院。传统治疗师是心理保健的入口,与他们合作可以改善抑郁症的早期发现和治疗。一些传统治疗方法可能对抑郁症有帮助,因此让他们参与识别和支持抑郁症患者可能是有益的。未来的研究应评估传统疗法的有效性,并探讨患者对这些疗法的看法。
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来源期刊
SSM. Mental health
SSM. Mental health Social Psychology, Health
CiteScore
2.30
自引率
0.00%
发文量
0
审稿时长
118 days
期刊最新文献
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