Thesis (Ph.D. (Psychology)) -- University of Limpopo, 2023 / With the realisation that both the traditional and western health care systems are
consulted in South Africa, the Traditional Health Practitioners Act, No 22 of 2007 was
promulgated. In addition to the Act, there was a growing body of literature proposing the
integration of the two health systems to improve the overall South African health
system. This study explored the possibility for such collaboration by investigating case
formulation by western-trained clinical psychologists and traditional health practitioners
regarding selected cases of mental disorders.
A qualitative research design, specifically a case study method was used in the present
study. Six clinical psychologists and six traditional health practitioners were selected
through purposive sampling and were requested to participate in the study. The
researcher further sampled two vignettes of Major Depressive Disorder and
Schizophrenia for data collection purposes. Data was collected through semi-structured
interviews and vignettes and analysed through Braun and Clarke‟s thematic content
analysis steps. Six main themes that related to case formulations by clinical
psychologists emerged. These themes were: a). Collateral information as a major
determinant in the assessment and treatment of mental illness; b). Classifications of
mental illness; c). The symptomatology of mental illness; d). Causes of mental illness;
e). The multidisciplinary approach in the treatment of mental illness; and f). Views
regarding the collaboration of Clinicians and Traditional Health Practitioners. On the
other hand, eight themes that related to the case formulations by traditional health
practitioners were identified. These themes were: a) Divination as the main process of
enquiry, b) Descriptive names of mental illnesses, c) Conceptualisations of stress related and depressive disorders by Traditional Health Practitioners, d) Views on
causes of mental illness, e) The effectiveness of the Western approach in the treatment
of some forms of mental illness, f) The relationship between religion and African
traditional practices; g) A calling as symbolised by symptoms of mental illness, and, h)
Traditional health practitioners‟ views on the collaboration between themselves and
western health practitioners.
The study has further revealed that there are some similarities as well as differences in
the way clinical psychologists and traditional health practitioners formulate cases. The
convergences in their formulations were revealed in the following themes; a). The
conceptualisation of stress and related conditions; b). The western system is the most
appropriate in the management of stress-related and depressive disorders and c). The
benefits of the collaboration between western and African healing systems. The
following divergences were further identified from the way clinical psychologists and
traditional health practitioners formulate their cases: a). The conceptualisation of the
presenting symptoms from the two cases; b). The causal factors of mental health
conditions; c). The initial methods of enquiry; and d). The management of mental health
conditions. The study has further revealed that both traditional health practitioners and
clinical psychologists have positive views regarding the collaboration of western and
African traditional health systems, especially in the management of mental disorders.
The study has further uncovered the convergences and divergences in the
conceptualisation of mental health conditions between traditional health practitioners
and clinical psychologists.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:ul/oai:ulspace.ul.ac.za:10386/4288 |
| Date | January 2023 |
| Creators | Makgabo, Chuene Jones |
| Contributors | Sodi, T., Nkoana, S. E. |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | xiv, 203 leaves |
| Relation |
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