Self-identification, mode of diagnosis and treatment, and perceptions of relationships with medical providers of South African Xhosa-speaking traditional healers

There is widespread use of traditional medicine in treating common mental disorders in South Africa. We aimed to (i) explore the self-identification of traditional healers (THs; how they refer to themselves, e.g., as healer, spiritualist, sangoma, etc.); (ii) determine if different types of THs treat different conditions (physical/psychological) or use different modes of diagnosis and treatment; (iii) identify factors that influence the willingness of THs to refer patients to biomedical hospitals; and (iv) compare TH practices between two provinces. Participants included Xhosa-speaking THs (mean age = 54.10, SD = 13.57 years) from the Western (n = 50) and Eastern (n = 68) Cape provinces. Participants completed a questionnaire regarding self-identification, mode of diagnosis/treatment, relationship with biomedical hospitals, type of condition(s) treated, and a Patient Health Questionnaire. There were significant associations between the type of TH (as self-identified) and (i) mode of diagnosis, (ii) mode of treatment, and (iii) type of condition(s) treated. Spiritualists, male THs, and THs who had previously been hospitalised for a mental disorder were more likely to treat mental disorders. THs who had previously been hospitalised for mental disorders were more likely to report a willingness to refer patients to biomedical hospitals. Findings highlight the complex practices of Xhosa-speaking THs. Collaboration between THs and mental health care professionals could be facilitated by focusing on male THs, spiritualists, and THs who have previously been hospitalised for mental illness. Future research should provide clearer operational definitions of the type of TH included.

Influence of MAO inhibitors on uptake and release of norepinephrine in rat brain in vitro

MAO inhibitors of diverse chemical structures were found to inhibit the uptake of 3H-NE into chopped rat cerebral cortex in vitro. The following molar (M) IC50 values to inhibit 3H-NE uptake were obtained: iproniazid, 7.9 X 10(-4)M; pargyline, 3.1 X 10(-4)M; pheniprazine, 6.3 X 10(-6)M; phenelzine, 3.9 X 10(-6)M; tranylcypromine, 2.5 X 10(-6)M; amphetamine, 2.5 X10(-7)M. In addition to decreasing deaminative catabolism, 5 X 10(-5)M amphetamine, tranylcypromine and pheniprazine plus 10(-3)M phenelzine produced a release of 3H-NE from tissue stores into incubation media. Similar concentrations of pargyline and iproniazid were ineffective to release 3H-NE from brain tissue.