Referral and collaboration between South African psychiatrists and religious or spiritual advisers: Views from some psychiatrists

A. B.R. Janse van Rensburg, M. Poggenpoel, C. P. Szabo, C. P.H. Myburgh

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

10 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background. Referral between psychiatrists and spiritual workers (e.g. Christian pastoral care workers, traditional healers, imams, rabbis and others) in the heterogeneous South African (SA) society is complicated and requires investigation to establish appropriate norms. Objective. To capture the views of some local psychiatrists on referral and collaboration between SA psychiatrists and religious or spiritual advisers. Methods. This explorative qualitative study involved in-depth, semistructured interviews with 13 local academic psychiatrists selected through purposive sampling. Each participant had a single interview with the aim of exploring themes related to the referral and collaboration process between psychiatrists and spiritual advisers. Theme content analysis of interview transcripts was done. Results for one of the six identified themes are reported; other results are reported elsewhere. Results. Within the theme 'referral and collaboration between psychiatrists and spiritual professionals', three subthemes were identified: facilitating appropriate referral and intervention for individual users; information sharing and mutual awareness between disciplines; and addressing stigmatisation of users with psychiatric conditions. Conclusion. Dialogue between psychiatrists and religious or spiritual advisers should be developed on an individual practitioner and facility basis, as well as on an organised basis between representative societies. The process of formalising a relationship between local psychiatrists and different spiritual workers may, however, still have some way to go.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)40-45
Number of pages6
JournalSouth African Journal of Psychiatry
Volume20
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2014

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Psychiatry and Mental Health

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