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The validity of DSM-IV dissociative disorders categories in SW Uganda

van Duijl, Marjolein ; Cardeña, Etzel LU orcid and de Jong, Joop T. V. M. (2005) In Transcultural Psychiatry 42(2). p.219-241
Abstract
There is little systematic research on the cross-cultural validity of the dissociative disorders, especially in non-western countries. This study evaluates the fit of the DSM-IV classification and concepts of these disorders with local concepts, experiences and local presentations in south-west Uganda. We conducted focus group discussions with medical students, traditional healers, religious leaders, counselors, community members and other health workers (n = 48). They were supplemented by key informant interviews with religious people, traditional healers and leaders (n = 11). The responses were subjected to thematic analysis. Dissociative amnesia and depersonalization were generally recognized and seen as the result of traumatic... (More)
There is little systematic research on the cross-cultural validity of the dissociative disorders, especially in non-western countries. This study evaluates the fit of the DSM-IV classification and concepts of these disorders with local concepts, experiences and local presentations in south-west Uganda. We conducted focus group discussions with medical students, traditional healers, religious leaders, counselors, community members and other health workers (n = 48). They were supplemented by key informant interviews with religious people, traditional healers and leaders (n = 11). The responses were subjected to thematic analysis. Dissociative amnesia and depersonalization were generally recognized and seen as the result of traumatic experiences and were useful categories in Uganda. However, dissociative fugue did not match local concepts and was confused with spirit possession and other conditions such as alcoholic fugues and dementia. The description of dissociative identity disorder was always interpreted as a possession trance disorder by the local healers. We found only partial support for the validity of the DSM-IV classification of dissociative disorders in Uganda. (Less)
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author
; and
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
dissociative disorders, possession, transcultural psychiatry, Uganda
in
Transcultural Psychiatry
volume
42
issue
2
pages
219 - 241
publisher
SAGE Publications
external identifiers
  • scopus:21344456133
ISSN
1363-4615
DOI
10.1177/1363461505052666
language
English
LU publication?
no
id
399db746-d323-453a-82c5-44158ccce981 (old id 833563)
date added to LUP
2016-04-04 07:48:19
date last changed
2022-03-15 07:25:15
@article{399db746-d323-453a-82c5-44158ccce981,
  abstract     = {{There is little systematic research on the cross-cultural validity of the dissociative disorders, especially in non-western countries. This study evaluates the fit of the DSM-IV classification and concepts of these disorders with local concepts, experiences and local presentations in south-west Uganda. We conducted focus group discussions with medical students, traditional healers, religious leaders, counselors, community members and other health workers (n = 48). They were supplemented by key informant interviews with religious people, traditional healers and leaders (n = 11). The responses were subjected to thematic analysis. Dissociative amnesia and depersonalization were generally recognized and seen as the result of traumatic experiences and were useful categories in Uganda. However, dissociative fugue did not match local concepts and was confused with spirit possession and other conditions such as alcoholic fugues and dementia. The description of dissociative identity disorder was always interpreted as a possession trance disorder by the local healers. We found only partial support for the validity of the DSM-IV classification of dissociative disorders in Uganda.}},
  author       = {{van Duijl, Marjolein and Cardeña, Etzel and de Jong, Joop T. V. M.}},
  issn         = {{1363-4615}},
  keywords     = {{dissociative disorders; possession; transcultural psychiatry; Uganda}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{2}},
  pages        = {{219--241}},
  publisher    = {{SAGE Publications}},
  series       = {{Transcultural Psychiatry}},
  title        = {{The validity of DSM-IV dissociative disorders categories in SW Uganda}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1363461505052666}},
  doi          = {{10.1177/1363461505052666}},
  volume       = {{42}},
  year         = {{2005}},
}