scholarly journals ‘Genetic loading’ or ‘evil mind’: current conceptions of depression in Myanmar from the perspective of healthcare professionals

2018 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 43-46
Author(s):  
Steffen Schödwell ◽  
Theresa Steinhäuser ◽  
Anna Auckenthaler
Keyword(s):  
Grounded Theory ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Treatment Strategies ◽  
Explanatory Models ◽  
Traditional Healing ◽  
Help Seeking Behaviour ◽  
Genetic Loading ◽  
Patients Perspective

In Myanmar, a country that has just recently opened up to the international community, Buddhist and traditional healing methods are still widely applied to various diseases and conditions. The aim of this study was to ascertain how professionals from the biomedical healthcare system in Myanmar experience interactions with patients with depression, based on the professionals' conceptualisation of this disorder. Six problem-centred interviews were conducted and analysed with grounded theory methodology. The interviewed professionals conceptualised three ways of understanding depression, including different treatment strategies: a biomedical, a contextual and a Buddhist concept of depression. Concerning the patients' perspective, the professionals mentioned somatic, religious and supernatural explanatory models, as well as corresponding help-seeking behaviour. Our results suggest that by taking a biomedical approach, professionals risk neglecting both the needs and resources of Myanmar patients with depressive symptoms.

scholarly journals Depressive Symptoms, Help-Seeking, and Barriers to Mental Healthcare Among Healthcare Professionals in Lithuania

2021 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 3
Author(s):  
Daniel Rogoža ◽  
Robertas Strumila ◽  
Eglė Klivickaitė ◽  
Edgaras Diržius ◽  
Neringa Čėnaitė
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Mental Healthcare ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Poor Mental Health ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Patient Health

Background: Previous research suggests that healthcare professionals (HCPs) experience high levels of work-related psychological distress, including depressive symptoms. Due to the stigma of mental health problems and other barriers, HCPs are likely to be hesitant to seek appropriate mental healthcare. We aimed to explore these phenomena among HCPs in Lithuania.Methods: A web survey inquiring about depressive symptoms, help-seeking, and barriers to mental healthcare was conducted. Depressive symptoms were measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). 601 complete questionnaires were included in the analyses. The barriers to help-seeking were identified using the inductive content analysis approach. Descriptive, non-parametric, and robust statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software.Results: Most of the respondents have reported depression-like symptoms over the lifetime, although only about a third of them sought professional help. Of those, roughly half preferred a private specialist. The stigma and neglect of mental health problems were the most common barriers to help-seeking. Around half of the HCPs believed that seeking mental healthcare can imperil their occupational license. About a quarter of the HCPs screened positive for clinically relevant depressive symptoms. Statistically significant differences in the PHQ-9 score were found between categories of healthcare specialty, marital status, religious beliefs, workplace, and years of work as a HCP. Fewer years of work and younger age were associated with the higher PHQ-9 score.Conclusions: Our findings suggest that HCPs in Lithuania may be inclined not to seek appropriate mental healthcare and experience poor mental health, although stronger evidence is needed to verify these findings. 

scholarly journals The arrogance of insight?

1993 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 233-234 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel Perkins ◽  
Parimala Moodley
Keyword(s):  
Health Services ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Mental Distress ◽  
Emotional Responses ◽  
Explanatory Models ◽  
Physical Illness ◽  
Psychological Models ◽  
Help Seeking Behaviour ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Use Of Health Services

People's beliefs about illness, distress and disability profoundly influence their experience of, and responses to, such problems. Medical anthropologists have long recognised the importance of explanatory models of physical illness and the impact of these on the provision and use of health services. Similarly, psychological models of physical illness and related behaviour stress the importance of the ways in which people conceptualise or understand their difficulties. These are central in determining emotional responses to illness, help-seeking and illness-related behaviours, attitudes towards and compliance with treatment. Eisenbruch (1990) argues that, “the culturally constructed ideas held by the patient about the cause and nature of disease” are as important in relation to mental distress and disturbance. Help-seeking behaviour, attitudes towards and compliance with treatment are of central concern in psychiatry and all of these are influenced by people's understandings of their difficulties. Yet relatively little attention has been paid to the ways in which people conceptualise their mental distress.

scholarly journals Prevalence, correlates and help-seeking behaviour for depressive symptoms in rural Uganda: a population-based survey

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Ssebunnya ◽  
G. Medhin ◽  
S. Kangere ◽  
F. Kigozi ◽  
J. Nakku ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Middle Age ◽  
Past History ◽  
Economic Status ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Socio Economic Status ◽  
Help Seeking Behaviour

Background.Depression is a common disorder characterized by delayed help-seeking, often remaining undetected and untreated.Objectives.We sought to estimate the proportion of adults in Kamuli District with depressive symptoms and to assess their help-seeking behaviour.Methods.This was a population-based cross-sectional study conducted in a rural district in Uganda. Sampling of study participants was done using the probability proportional to size method. Screening for depression was done using Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). The participants who screened positive also reported on whether and where they had sought treatment. Data collected using PHQ-9 was used both as a symptom-based description of depression and algorithm diagnosis of major depression. All data analysis was done using STATA version 13.Results.With a cut-off score of ⩾10, 6.4% screened positive for current depressive symptoms and 23.6% reported experiencing depressive symptoms in the past 12 months. The majority of individuals who screened positive for current depression (75.6%) were females. In a crude analysis, people with lower education, middle age and low socio-economic status were more likely to have depressive symptoms. Help-seeking was low, with only 18.9% of the individuals who screened positive for current depression having sought treatment from a health worker.Conclusion.Depressive symptoms are common in the study district with low levels of help-seeking practices. People with lower levels of education, low socio-economic status and those in middle age are more likely to be affected by these symptoms. Most persons with current depression had past history of depressive symptoms.

Views on Depression From Traditional Healing and Psychiatry Clinics in Uganda

2016 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 243-261 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura R. Johnson ◽  
Eu Gene Chin ◽  
Mayanja Kajumba ◽  
Simon Kizito ◽  
Paul Bangirana
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Traditional Healers ◽  
Explanatory Models ◽  
Traditional Healing ◽  
Integrated System ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Herbal Remedies ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Short Supply

In Uganda, depression is a growing concern, yet mental health professionals are in short supply, and help is often sought from traditional healers. To develop an integrated system of care, we must understand sociocultural aspects of depression including beliefs about help seeking and treatment. In a mixed methods study, we used semi-structured interviews and self-report measures to assess depressed patients ( N = 30) seeking treatment in traditional healing ( n = 15) and psychiatry clinics ( n = 15) near Kampala, Uganda. We assessed demographics, symptoms, treatment characteristics, and explanatory models (EMs) of depression (e.g., labeling the problem, cause, impact on life, best type of treatment). We predicted differences across treatment settings. To further explore EMs, we assessed differences in EMs of patients and their providers by interviewing patient–provider dyads ( n = 8 dyads). Patients in both settings were similar in demographics, symptoms, perceived cause, seriousness, and impact of depression. However, patients at traditional clinics were more likely to desire herbal remedies, while those in psychiatry clinics were more likely to desire modern medication. Patient–provider dyads also had different treatment beliefs, with patients desiring financial assistance, social support, and medication, and providers more likely to suggest counseling or advice. The study highlights the need to understand diverse beliefs and treatment trajectories in a multicultural context.

scholarly journals Depression and anxiety in healthcare professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 149 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Weibelzahl ◽  
J. Reiter ◽  
G. Duden
Keyword(s):  
Help Seeking ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Clinical Symptoms ◽  
Psychological Symptoms ◽  
Clinical Samples ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Help Seeking Behaviour ◽  
Icd 10 ◽  
Work Related Stressors

Abstract Healthcare staff have been at the centre of the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, facing diverse work-related stressors. Building upon studies from various countries, we aimed to investigate (1) the prevalence of various work-related stressors among healthcare professionals in Germany specific to the COVID-19 pandemic, (2) the psychological effects of these stressors in terms of clinical symptoms, and (3) the healthcare professionals' help-seeking behaviour. To this end, N = 300 healthcare professionals completed an online survey including the ICD-10 Symptom Rating checklist (ISR), event-sampling questions on pandemic-related stressors and self-formulated questions on help-seeking behaviour. Participants were recruited between 22 May and 22 July 2020. Findings were analysed using t tests, regressions and comparisons to large clinical and non-clinical samples assessed before and during the pandemic. Results show that healthcare professionals were most affected by protective measures at their workplace and changes in work procedures. Psychological symptoms, particularly anxiety and depression, were significantly more severe than in a non-clinical pre-pandemic sample and in the general population during the pandemic. At the same time, most professionals indicated that they would not seek help for psychological concerns. These findings indicate that healthcare employers need to pay greater attention to the mental health of their staff.

scholarly journals Explanatory models and help-seeking behaviour of leprosy patients in Adamawa State, Nigeria

1998 ◽  
Vol 69 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
N. VAN DE WEG ◽  
E. B. POST ◽  
R. LUCASSEN ◽  
J. T. V. M. DE JONG ◽  
J. VAN DEN BROEK
Keyword(s):  
Help Seeking ◽  
Explanatory Models ◽  
Leprosy Patients ◽  
Help Seeking Behaviour

The development of the Short Explanatory Model Interview (SEMI) and its use among primary-care attenders with common mental disorders

1998 ◽  
Vol 28 (5) ◽  
pp. 1231-1237 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. R. LLOYD ◽  
K. S. JACOB ◽  
V. PATEL ◽  
L. St. LOUIS ◽  
D. BHUGRA ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Illness ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Common Mental Disorders ◽  
Field Work ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Explanatory Models ◽  
African Caribbean ◽  
Help Seeking Behaviour

Background. Recent anthropological studies have documented the importance of understanding the relation of culture to the experience of mental illness. The use of interviews that elicit explanatory models has facilitated such research, but currently available interviews are lengthy and impractical for epidemiological studies. This paper is a preliminary report on the development of a brief instrument to elicit explanatory models for use in field work.Method. The development of the SEMI, a short interview to elicit explanatory models is described. The interview explores the subject's cultural background, nature of presenting problem, help-seeking behaviour, interaction with physician/healer and beliefs related to mental illness.Results. The SEMI was employed to study the explanatory models of subjects with common mental disorders among Whites, African-Caribbean and Asians living in London and was also used in Harare, Zimbabwe. Data from its use in four different ethnic groups is presented with the aim of demonstrating its capacity to show up differences in these varied settings.Conclusions. The simplicity and brevity of the SEMI allow for its use in field studies in different cultures, data can be used to provide variables for use in quantitative analysis and provide qualitative descriptions.

Therapeutic encounters

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dinesh Bhugra ◽  
Antonio Ventriglio ◽  
Kamaldeep S. Bhui
Keyword(s):  
Healthcare Professional ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Economic Status ◽  
Explanatory Models ◽  
Primary Language ◽  
Therapeutic Interaction ◽  
Therapeutic Engagement ◽  
Help Seeking Behaviour ◽  
Therapeutic Encounters ◽  
Social Sectors

When individuals experience distress, they try to make sense of this and, in the first instance, may seek help from personal, folk, or social sectors. If these interventions do not work, they will contact the professional sector. It is likely that the healthcare system will direct their help-seeking behaviour. In addition, the explanatory models they have will direct them into help-seeking accordingly. Once therapeutic interaction has started, the explanatory models of the individuals, their families, carers, and those of the clinician will affect therapeutic engagement. Race, gender, social status, education, and economic status will all affect explanatory models and where individuals seek help. If different from that of the patient, the culture of the clinician will affect therapeutic alliance. Working with interpreters requires training if the primary language of the patient differs from that of the healthcare professional.

Anxiety and Depression in a Village in Lesotho, Africa: A Comparison with the United States

1990 ◽  
Vol 156 (3) ◽  
pp. 343-350 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Hollifield ◽  
Wayne Katon ◽  
David Spain ◽  
Limakatso Pule
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Anxiety Disorder ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
The United States ◽  
Explanatory Models ◽  
Panic Attacks ◽  
Generalised Anxiety Disorder ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Help Seeking Behaviour

Adults in a village in Lesotho, Africa, were interviewed to determine the community prevalence of major depression, panic disorder, and generalised anxiety disorder. The prevalence data were compared with data from a large epidemiological study in the United States utilising the same research instrument. There was a significantly higher prevalence of all three diagnoses in Lesotho as compared with the United States. As in the United States, women were at an increased risk for these disorders, although statistical significance was not demonstrated for depression. The majority of people (77%) who had experienced panic attacks said they had sought help for their symptoms, with the majority attending Western-trained doctors. The relationship between explanatory models and help-seeking behaviour was explored in people who had had panic attacks. Less than 40% of those with generalised anxiety disorder said they sought help.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document