Trop Geogr Med. 1989 Oct; 41(4): 383-7.

The traditional healer's approach to the treatment of obsessional neurosis. A case study at Ibadan.

Madu SN, Ohaeri JU.

Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.

This paper presents a case study of a Nigerian traditional healer's methods of treating obsessional thinking. Under supervision, two psychology students of the University of Ibadan watched several sessions during the treatment of a woman suffering from obsessional thoughts in a traditional healer's home. The mental state of the woman was assessed by a clinical interview at the beginning and end of the course of treatment, and the traditional healer was interviewed after each session. The healer used psychological and physical methods of treatment. Supernatural forces were implicated as being aetiological to this disorder. Elements of Western psychological medical methods (such as environmental manipulation, enquiry into the unconscious motivation of behaviour, and suggestion through incantation) were evident in this practice, although applied without the systematic coherence of clinical medicine. Physical methods included the oral administration of a variety of roots and leaves and bathing with a local soap. The paper calls for some form of cooperation with these native healers in health care delivery.