Background The maltreatment of people with mental illness in Ghana's traditional and faith-based healing centres, including shackling, flogging, and forced fasting, has been documented by numerous sources. Such treatment is potentially traumatising and may exacerbate mental health problems. Despite widespread use, few studies have focused on experiences and characteristics of people who seek traditional healing for mental illness or healers' perspectives treatment of these conditions. Method Purposeful sampling was used to recruit 82 individuals who were treated in healing centres and 40 traditional healers; all took part in semi-structured interviews. Those treated were asked about experiences in centres and assessed for prior trauma exposure, posttraumatic stress, and functional impairment. Healers were asked about beliefs and practices related to the treatment of mental illness. Results Individuals treated in centres and healers generally believed that mental illness has a spiritual cause. Approximately 30.5% of those treated in centres were exposed to maltreatment; despite this, half would return. Individuals with a history of trauma were more likely to report maltreatment in the centre and had higher symptoms of posttraumatic stress. Most participants had impaired functioning. Healers who used practices like shackling believed they were necessary. Most healers were willing to collaborate with the official health structure. Conclusion Results provide insight into the treatment of mental illness by traditional healers in Ghana and the need for trauma-informed mental health services. Findings also highlight the importance of considering cultural beliefs when attempting to implement mental health interventions in the region.

中文翻译：

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加纳基于信仰和传统治疗中心的精神疾病治疗：服务使用者和治疗师的观点

背景 在加纳的传统和基于信仰的治疗中心对精神病患者的虐待，包括镣铐、鞭笞和强迫禁食，已有大量资料记载。这种治疗可能会造成创伤，并可能加剧心理健康问题。尽管广泛使用，但很少有研究关注寻求传统治疗精神疾病的人的经历和特征或治疗师对这些疾病的看法。方法采用有目的抽样方法，招募在康复中心接受治疗的82名个体和40名传统治疗师；所有人都参加了半结构化面试。接受治疗的人被询问在中心的经历，并评估先前的创伤暴露、创伤后压力和功能障碍。治疗师被问及与治疗精神疾病有关的信念和实践。结果 在中心和治疗师接受治疗的个人普遍认为精神疾病有精神原因。大约 30.5% 在中心接受治疗的人受到虐待；尽管如此，仍有一半会返回。有创伤史的人更有可能在中心报告受到虐待，并且有更高的创伤后压力症状。大多数参与者的功能受损。使用手铐等做法的治疗师认为这是必要的。大多数治疗师愿意与官方卫生机构合作。结论结果提供了对加纳传统治疗师治疗精神疾病以及对创伤知情精神健康服务的需求的洞察。