Dissertation Research: Belief Systems, Psychological Affliction, and Traditional Treatment of Mental Illness among Maya Indians of Highland Chiapas, Mexico

这个项目将研究如何Tzeltal和Tzotzil玛雅 体验、诊断和治疗精神障碍。 一段 将花费24个月的时间收集数据， 三个领域相互关联的问题：（1）传统 玛雅民族精神病学，（2）玛雅人的关系 西方生物医学精神病学的民族精神病学模式 模式，（3）医疗多元化和诉诸的层次 治疗精神疾病。 民族流行病学调查 将是该项目的核心。 这项调查将建立 精神疾病的流行和文化定义 条件下研究，形成筛选的基础 在研究的后续阶段，以及 招募自认身份的人 紊乱 专注于受害者的经历 该地区的精神疾病防治工作尚待开展， 将提供有关这些痛苦的宝贵信息， 民族医学实践体系，指导 治疗选择，信念与 行为，以及土著和 生物医学系统 使用西方精神病学 评估工具（例如，计算机化诊断 面试时间表）将提供以下比较信息 心理障碍的文化差异。 重要的是， 了解玛雅疾病及其定义 治疗将使公共卫生官员能够更多地 有效地为玛雅人设计治疗策略

This project will examine how the Tzeltal and Tzotzil Maya experience, diagnose and treat mental disorders. A period of 24 months will be spent collecting data that will address interrelated concerns within three domains: (1) traditional Maya ethnopsychiatry, (2) the relationship of the Maya ethnopsychiatric model to the Western biomedical psychiatric model, and (3) medical pluralism and hierarchy of resort of treatment of mental disorders. An ethnoepidemiology survey will be central to the project. This survey will establish the prevalence and cultural definition of the mental conditions under study, form the basis for screening of cases in subsequent stages of the research, and for recruitment of self-identified cases of recognized folk disorders. Focus on the experiences of the sufferers of mental disorders has yet to be undertaken in this region and will provide valuable information on the afflictions, the system of ethnomedical practice, the beliefs which direct treatment choice, the dynamic relation between belief and behavior, and the relation between the indigenous and biomedical systems. The use of the Western psychiatric assessment instruments (e.g., Computerized Diagnostic Interview Schedule) will provide comparative information on cultural variation in psychological disorders. Importantly, knowledged gained about Maya disorders and their definition and treatment will allow public health officials to more effectively design treatment strategies for the Maya.