Khat chewing in persons with severe mental illness in Ethiopia

A qualitative study exploring perspectives of patients and caregivers

Datos Bibliográficos

ID2394844
AutoresSolomon Teferra (0000-0003-0405-1705, Addis Ababa University, autor de correspondencia), 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)
Año2011
Volumen48
Número4
Páginas455-472
Fecha de publicación2011-09-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaTranscultural Psychiatry (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 1363-4615 • E-ISSN: 1461-7471
EditorialSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/1363461511408494
PMID21911510
OpenAlexW2029460616
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas5
Referencias citadas16

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