Traditional Chinese Medicine Explanatory Models of Depressive Disorders: A Qualitative Study

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is an alternative medical system utilised by many Chinese. However, the knowledge of TCM concepts of depression is limited amongst clinicians with training in Western biomedicine. The purpose of this study was to obtain a better understanding of the conceptualisation of depression from a group of TCM practitioners. Semi-structured interviews in Chinese were carried out with 10 TCM practitioners in Hong Kong. A case description of major depression disorder (MDD) was used as a basis. Interview texts were transcribed, translated and analysed using qualitative content analysis. Most informants identified the case as a depression pattern, a term that lacked clear definition and standardised criteria. The mechanism of disease for MDD symptoms were regarded to be liver-qi dysregulation and an imbalance of yin and yang. The TCM practitioners implemented individualised diagnosis, treatment, and a holistic concept without clear distinction between the mind and the body. This contrasted with the biomedical tradition of separating psychologisation and somatisation. The meanings given to the concept of depression did not correspond with current DSM or ICD definitions, and the TCM normativity can result in variations in explanatory models.