General health workers' description of mental health problems and treatment approaches used in Papua New Guinea.
Betty E Koka, Frank P Deane, Geoffrey Cb Lyons, Gordon Lambert
The International journal of social psychiatry November 1, 2014 DOI: 10.1177/0020764013513441 via PubMed
Summary
In Papua New Guinea, a developing country with scarce specialist mental health services, health workers report that schizophrenia and substance use disorder are the most common mental health problems among men, while depression is most common among women. Culture-bound conditions such as sorcery and spirit possession are also frequently encountered. Over 65% of patients receive psychotropic medication, more than 50% receive psychological intervention, and 28% undergo traditional treatments. Somatic symptoms are common across genders, but men tend to present with psychotic symptoms and women with mood-related problems. Culture-specific explanations and treatments are widely used.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Retrospective quantitative survey Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 203 |
| Population | Papua New Guinean health workers |
| Keywords | Papua new guinea Culture Diagnoses Health services Mental health |
| Citations | 5 |
| Key finding | Schizophrenia and substance use disorder are the major presenting problems for men, while depression is most common for women, and culture-bound diagnoses like sorcery and spirit possession are prevalent. |
Abstract
Papua New Guinea is a developing country with limited resources for specialist mental health services. Little is known about the mental health and treatment services of Papua New Guinea. The aim of this study was to clarify the presenting mental health problems encountered by Papua New Guinean health workers and the common treatment approaches used. A total of 203 Papua New Guinean health workers completed a retrospective quantitative survey about their three most recent mental health patients. The survey asked about presenting symptomatology, diagnoses (including culture-bound diagnoses) and treatment approaches. The major presenting mental health problems for males included schizophrenia, substance use disorder, sorcery and spirit possession. Depression was the most common diagnoses for women, followed by sorcery and somatisation. Over 65% of patients were prescribed psychotropic medication, over 50% received some form of psychological intervention and 28% were receiving traditional treatments. Somatic symptoms are common among both male and female Papua New Guineans; however, males may be more likely to present with psychotic symptoms and females with mood-related problems. Schizophrenia and depression are commonly identified with substance use disorder more problematic among males. Culture-specific explanations and treatment are commonly used.