A study of dual use of modern and traditional mental health systems by the Bedouin of the Negev

grantor: University of TorontoThis study analyses the utilization of modern and traditional mental health care systems by the Bedouin, with particular emphasis upon such patterns of dual use from the patients' perspectives. In addition, the study describes the patients' experiences through the course of the treatment in both systems, and the reasons for utilizing both systems concurrently. It also examines particular aspects of the modern and traditional systems that treated the same patients, among them, etiology/explanation, diagnosis, symptomatology, prognosis, and course of treatment. The first subject set consisted of an initial population of 60 Bedouin patients newly referred to the psychiatric outpatient system of these, a subset, consisting of 20 patients (10 female and 10 male) used 'both' the modern and traditional healing systems concurrently. There were gendered differences in terms of help-seeking processes, perceptions, patterns of utilization; decisions regarding which system to utilize, and degrees of familiarity with the modern and traditional mental health systems. The modern system was helpful with respect to medications, follow-up, certain types of instrumental support, and for female patients especially, in providing a greater network of support outside the home. The traditional system was quite useful in mobilizing the patients' families as networks of support. It was also therapeutically significant in addressing and improving family dysfunction. The Bedouin patients find the modern system helpful in addressing somatic issues, and the traditional system, in addressing emotional and behaviourial aspects of illness. The patients' families played an important role in terms of managing the treatment in both systems. The second subjects were seven Jewish psychiatrists, who treated the Bedouin patients. They graduated from medical schools in Russia, Romania and Italy. The third subjects were twenty traditional healers, who treated the same Bedouin patients. The psychiatrists relationships with their patients tended to be formal, and diagnoses Western, whereas the traditional healers built quasi-familial relationships, shared the same world-view as their patients, and used familiar terminology. The implications of these findings for the integration between both systems, social work practice, and the significance of social work in the modern health systems are discussed.Ph.D

The healing significance of the Negev's Bedouin Dervish

Among the Bedouins of the Negev desert, Israel, there are Dervish healers specializing in what are now called psychiatric disorders. Five Dervish (three male, two female) were interviewed and observed with reference to concepts of etiology, symptom classification, diagnosis, stages of treatment, and aftercare. The conclusion examines reasons why Bedouins might want to seek treatment from a Dervish, rather than a modern health care practitioner.Bedouin Dervish Islam mental health traditional healing