Khat chewing in persons with severe mental illness in Ethiopia

A qualitative study exploring perspectives of patients and caregivers

Bibliographic Data

ID2394844
AuthorsSolomon Teferra (0000-0003-0405-1705, Addis Ababa University, corresponding author), C Hanlon (0000-0002-7937-3226, Institute of Psychiatry, London), Atalay Alem (0000-0001-8353-7185, Addis Ababa University), Lars Jacobsson (0000-0002-1127-1178, Umeå University), Teshome Shibre (Addis Ababa University)
Year2011
Volume48
Issue4
Pages455-472
Publication date2011-09-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueTranscultural Psychiatry (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1363-4615 • E-ISSN: 1461-7471
PublisherSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/1363461511408494
PMID21911510
OpenAlexW2029460616
LanguageEN
Citations received5
References cited16

People with severe mental illness (SMI) in Ethiopia chew khat despite advice from their physicians to desist. We wanted to better understand their reasons for khat chewing, including any benefits that they might gain. A qualitative study was conducted involving patients with SMI and their caregivers in Butajira. Reasons given by patients as well as caregivers were more or less congruent: social pressure, a means for survival by improving function, combating medication side effects, to experience pleasure and curbing appetite. These findings will be of value to health workers, caregivers and policymakers alike in improving care and understanding for this patient group. Furthermore, our study indicates a role for future research to explore potentially beneficial effects of khat in this population

Khat · Mental health · Mental illness · Pleasure · Psychiatry · Psychotherapist · Qualitative research · Botulinum Toxin and Related Neurological Disorders · Medicine · Psychology · Psychosomatic Disorders and Their Treatments · Schizophrenia research and treatment