Abstract

IBANEZ ALLERA, Pedro Luis  and  CHECA Y OLMOS, Francisco. Towards a new anthropological classification of mental disorders in black African immigrants. Rev. Asoc. Esp. Neuropsiq. [online]. 2017, vol.37, n.132, pp.457-475. ISSN 2340-2733.  https://dx.doi.org/10.4321/s0211-57352017000200008.

In this study, the authors carry out a new classification of the mental problems presented by black African immigrants settled in the province of Almería (Spain). In many of these cases, symptom severity is such that they eventually require admission to the Mental Health Unit of the Hospital de Poniente in order to be treated. In this anthropological classification, two medical models, the biomedical and the traditional African, and two divergent points of view, that of mental health professionals (etic) and that of the affected immigrants and the members of their local networks (emic), become intertwined. On this basis, three clinical profiles are described: ancient madness or negative syndrome, modern madness or positive syndrome, and toxic madness or mixed syndrome. The etiology of each of these three types, its mode of presentation, symptomatology, progress, prognosis, therapeutic itinerary, and its effect on the social network of reference are described..

Keywords : mental disorders; cross-cultural comparison; emigrants and immigrants; mental health services; Western Africa.

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