The Social Life of Psychiatric Practice: Trauma in Postwar Kosova

Abstract

This article traces the social life of psychiatric practice in the context of war and postwar societies. It is argued that although psychiatric knowledge and practice is situated and grounded in particular cultural, social, and political contexts, it is important to examine how transnational networks situate local systems of meaning in much larger settings. I illustrate this claim by examining discourses and observations concerning health-seeking behaviors of Kosovar Albanian women and ways in which Kosovar health practitioners help them by employing, adapting, and changing the psychiatric tools and lessons learned during (trauma) training provided by international health professionals during the Yugoslav war and postwar eras. Thereby, I hope to contribute to a better understanding of how local health beliefs and practices are nested in the processes involved in international health policymaking and, thereby, relate to higher level structures such as international political economy, regional history, and development ideology.

Keywords:

• creolization
• globalization
• Kosova
• local health beliefs
• psychiatric treatment strategies
• war-trauma

Notes

My definition of psychiatric techniques related to the various ways of performing activities—which on many occasions do, but not necessarily need to involve things and artefacts—intended to biomedically “diagnose” and “treat” humans in the broadest sense.

In comparison, Austria has 11.8 psychiatrists, 49 psychologists, 37.8 psychiatric nurses, and 103.4 social workers/counselors per 1000.000 pop.; Germany has 11.8 psychiatrists, 51.5 psychologists, 52 psychiatric nurses, and 477 social workers/counselors per 1000.000 pop (UNKT 2007).

The names of all women are anonymized.

The names of medical practitioners are not anonymized as most study participants agreed to be identified in publications. The ones who do not want to be identified are referred to in general terms such as “a psychiatrist” or “another psychologist.”.

Therapists, patients, and family members work together to strengthen family capacities to master adversities.

Alprazolam is in a class of medications called benzodiazepines. It works by decreasing abnormal excitement in the brain. Alprazolam is used to treat anxiety disorders, panic disorders, and anxiety caused by depression.

Eglonyl is a dopamine D2-receptor antagonist. It is used therapeutically as an antidepressant, antipsychotic, and as a digestive aid.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Hanna Kienzler

HANNA KIENZLER is a postdoctoral fellow funded by the Strategic Training Program in Global Health Research. She works in the field of war-trauma and global health, organized violence, ethnic conflict and complex emergencies, and their mental health outcomes.