Perspectives and Practices of Xhosa‐speaking African Traditional Healers when Managing Psychosis

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate perspectives and practices of Xhosa‐speaking African traditional healers, known as “amagqirha”, in managing psychosis. Four traditional healers, 3 male and one female, were chosen to take part in the study through their association with psychosis patients undergoing treatment at a South African psychiatric hospital in Cape Town. In‐depth interviews were used to collect data. The interviews were conducted in Xhosa and were tape‐recorded. Following translation, the verbatim transcripts were analysed using thematic content analysis. The main themes that emerged from the analysis were grouped under the following 3 main issues: diagnosis, aetiology, and treatment. In terms of diagnosis, the African traditional healers identified symptoms of psychosis, which are consistent with the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM‐IV) criteria for schizophrenia. With regards to aetiology, supernatural powers such as witchcraft, spirit possession, angered ancestors, and genetic predisposition were articulated. Regarding treatment of psychosis, cleansing the patient and his or her family of evil spirits through washing, steaming, and induced vomiting were of major importance, followed by a group of traditional healers evocating evil spirits at the patient's home through singing and dancing. Implications of the findings for the continued co‐existence and cooperation between traditional and western healing systems are discussed.

Keywords:

• African traditional healers
• Healing
• Psychosis

Acknowledgements

This article is based on a mini‐thesis submitted by the first author to the Department of Psychology at the University of the Western Cape Town, under the main supervision of the second author. The mini‐thesis was co‐supervised by Mr Garth Stevens of the Institute for Social and Health Sciences at the University of South Africa. The first author was a clinical psychology intern at the psychiatric hospital at the time this study was conducted. The authors would like to thank the Human Sciences Research Council for awarding the first author with a Postgraduate Scholarship, which enabled her to study for and successfully complete her Master of Psychology degree in Clinical Psychology.