A case of Ifufunyane : a Xhosa culture-bound syndrome
Date
2005-11
Authors
Niehaus, Dana J. H.
Stein, Dan J.
Koen, Liezl
Lochner, Christine
Muller, Jacqueline E.
Mbanga, N. Irene
Emsley, Robin A.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins
Abstract
Clinicians and patients frequently have a different understanding and interpretation of the nature of an illness. While many reasons for these discrepancies can be postulated, differences in sociocultural background often play an important role—especially in the field of psychiatry. At our tertiary psychiatric hospital in South Africa, where standard Western teachings are followed, clinicians
are often confronted by patients who have a markedly different interpretation of their psychiatric
symptoms compared with the clinician’s perspective. For instance, “ifufunyane” (plural “amafufunyana”), a ritualized”“possession state,” often thought to result from witchcraft, is frequently reported by South African (Xhosa) patients with psychosis (including schizophrenia)
and their families.
Description
The original publication is available at http://journals.lww.com/practicalpsychiatry/pages/default.aspx
Keywords
Mental illness -- Social aspects -- South Africa, Xhosa (Africa people) -- Mental health, Cultural psychiatry -- South Africa
Citation
Niehaus, D.J.H. et al. 2005. A case of Ifufunyane: a Xhosa culture-bound syndrome. Journal of Psychiatric Practice, 11(6):411-413.