Explanatory models in psychiatry

doi:10.1017/CBO9780511543609.012

10 - Explanatory models in psychiatry

from Part II - Culture and mental health

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 11 August 2009

Mitchell G. Weiss and

Daryl Somma

Edited by

Dinesh Bhugra and

Kamaldeep Bhui

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Mitchell G. Weiss: Affiliation:
Department of Public Health and Epidemiology Swiss Tropical Institute Socinstrasse 57 CH-4002 Basel Switzerland
Daryl Somma: Affiliation:
Department of Public Health and Epidemiology Swiss Tropical Institute Socinstrasse 57 CH-4002 Basel Switzerland
Dinesh Bhugra: Affiliation:
Institute of Psychiatry, London
Kamaldeep Bhui: Affiliation:
Barts & The London, Queen Mary School of Medicine and Dentistry

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Summary

EDITORS' INTRODUCTION

Similar experiences of illness or distress are seen as being caused by different elements across different cultures. Feeling gutted and sinking heart are idioms of distress which are remarkably different across cultures, but their implications at an individual level are very similar. Furthermore, the causation of the distress will be seen as remarkably different. It is evident that, in traditional cultures, the locus of control may be seen as external which may be coloured by cultural expectations, whereas in others the locus of control may be internal. Within each culture, however, individuals may carry their own explanations which may or may not be strongly influenced by individual's culture. From a clinical perspective, it is crucial that clinicians are aware of explanatory models that patients bring to the therapeutic encounter so that engagement can begin.

Weiss and Somma examine the concepts of the explanatory model framework, its appeal to health professionals and social scientists as well as its limitations. The illness explanatory framework deals with notions about an episode of illness and its treatment by all who are engaged in the clinical process and understanding these models means that patients' views on their conditions are being acknowledged. Weiss and Somma emphasize that the model must be distinguished from other ways the term is used which may refer to the nature of health and other problems in general. They explain three formulations of illness explanatory models and describe conceptual underpinning of the illness explanatory framework. In the beginning of the illness explanatory model framework provided a means of bring cultural differences between patients and clinician (especially when they came from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds) in multicultural settings.

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Type: Chapter
Information: Textbook of Cultural Psychiatry , pp. 127 - 140

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511543609.012 [Opens in a new window]

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Print publication year: 2007

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