Psychiatric contributions from South Africa: ex Africa semper aliquid novi.

Abstract

Given that humans originated in Africa, it is likely that many seminal psychological observations and interventions originate in the continent. Relatively little attention has been paid, however, to more recent African contributions to the scientific fields of psychiatry and clinical psychology. This article notes that a number of major contributions to the understanding of brain-mind disorders have emerged from South Africa in particular. It briefly covers seminal contributions in evolutionary theory, psychotherapy, and neuroscience, as well as conceptual and practical contributions to reconciliation.