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Conceptualizing Psychosis in Uganda

The Perspective of Indigenous and Religious Healers

joanna{at}teuton.wanadoo.co.uk

Richard Bentall

University of Manchester,richard.p.bentall{at}manchester.ac.uk

Chris Dowrick

University of Liverpool,Cfd{at}liverpool.ac.uk

A qualitative study, investigating the representations and explanatory models of `madness' held by indigenous and religious healers, was undertaken in urban Uganda. Case vignettes of individuals with a diagnosis of a psychotic disorder were discussed by the healers in terms of phenomenology, causality, intervention and outcome. Indigenous healers primarily understood `madness' as spiritual or physiological, whereas religious healers also held psychological models. Healers' understandings of `madness' are inextricably linked with the historical and sociopolitical context and may be useful to individuals with psychotic experiences, however, it is likely that these models are dynamic and continually changing.

Key Words: Africa • indigenous healing • psychosis • religious healing • representations

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