Effectiveness of Traditional Healers for Mental Disorders
Author Information
Author(s): Mujeeb Masud Bhatti, Siddiqi Najma, Hannah Jennings, Saima Afaq, Aatik Arsh, Bilal Ahmed Khan
Primary Institution: University of York
Hypothesis
Are interventions delivered by traditional healers for the management of common mental disorders effective?
Conclusion
Interventions by traditional healers, particularly 'spiritual passe', are effective in improving symptoms of common mental disorders like depression and anxiety.
Supporting Evidence
- Interventions by traditional healers showed greater improvement in symptoms of depression and anxiety compared to control groups.
- Spiritual passe interventions were particularly effective for both depression and anxiety.
- Barriers to accessing traditional healing included stigma and lack of awareness.
- Facilitators included shared faith-based worldviews and perceived effectiveness of traditional healing.
Takeaway
This study found that traditional healers can help people feel better when they are sad or anxious, especially when they use special techniques like 'spiritual passe'.
Methodology
The study included a systematic review of 16 RCTs and 17 qualitative or mixed-methods studies, assessing the effectiveness of traditional healer interventions for common mental disorders.
Potential Biases
High risk of bias due to incomplete data and unclear allocation concealment.
Limitations
The overall quality of studies was low, and many studies had high risk of bias.
Participant Demographics
Participants included individuals with common mental disorders, with a mix of genders and ages across various studies.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Confidence Interval
95% CI: -1.48 to -0.37
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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