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Health practice at the technologic/folk interface: witchcraft as a culture-specific diagnosis
International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine
|January 1, 1976
Summary
Belief in witchcraft illness can cause or worsen physical and psychological problems. Resolving these issues requires integrating cultural beliefs with clinical treatment plans, involving patients, families, and traditional healers.
Area of Science:
- Medical Anthropology
- Cross-cultural Psychiatry
- Psychosomatic Medicine
Background:
- Witchcraft beliefs persist despite modern medical understanding of illness.
- These beliefs can independently cause or exacerbate health issues.
- Cultural explanations for illness significantly impact patient outcomes.