Cultural-Bound Syndrome and the Case of Ode-Ori (Schizophrenia) Among Healers Among Onko-Speaking People of Oke-Ogun Area of Oyo State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study profiles the nature of culturally bound syndrome perception of Ode-Ori (schizophrenia) incident among faith based and traditional mental illness healers in the Oke-Ogun area. The study relied on Interviews with mental health healers in the faith based and traditional treatment of mental illness. The interviews were recorded on tape, processed, and analyzed. Narratives indicated that local mental health experts conceptualize Ode-Ori as a psychotic syndrome resulting from spiritual attack, punishment for taboo violations or genetic inheritance from parents to their offspring. The disorder was viewed as having poor prognosis. Healers apply local treatment in the form of; holy water, spiritual bath, head washing with leaves sap mixed with black soap (osedudu), incision on the forehead and syncretism prayers and exorcism to return the patient to normality. This study concludes that there is cultural coloration to understanding of schizophrenia, it causes located in supernatural, spiritual and genetic factors. There is the need for more education about nature and causes of schizophrenia among Onko people in Nigeria.