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Transcultural Psychiatry
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Lay Concepts of Depression among the Baganda of Uganda: A Pilot Study

Elialilia S. Okello

Makerere University

Solvig Ekblad

Karolinska Institutet

The literature indicates that although depression is highly prevalent, it is rarely recognized as such. The aim was to test the use of case vignettes in exploring the explanatory models of various subtypes of depression, in six individual interviews, and four focus-group discussions. Depressive symptoms presented in these vignettes seem to be conceptualized as a problem related to cognition (thinking too much) rather than emotion (sadness) and the resulting condition is referred to as ‘illness of thoughts.’ Worrisome thoughts resulting from various socioeconomic problems are seen as important aetiological factors for the illness of thoughts and require no medication as it is believed that there is no medication for thoughts. There are culturally accepted ways of dealing with and healing the condition. Once illness becomes recurrent or chronic, other explanations about causes and a different course of action have to be considered. Further exploration of the relationship between thoughts and emotions among the Baganda may be an important avenue for further research.

Key Words: case vignette • explanatory models • illness of thoughts • depression • Uganda

Transcultural Psychiatry, Vol. 43, No. 2, 287-313 (2006)
DOI: 10.1177/1363461506064871
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[Abstract] [PDF]