Witchcraft and Soul Loss: Implications for Community Psychiatry

The author uses the case study of a Chicana patient who believes in witchcraft and soul loss to Illustrate the importance of understanding alternate theories of disease causation. He describes the patient's unsuccessful attempts to find treatment appropriate for her culturally determined beliefs and feels her efforts were hampered because she was a member of a culture in transition. She was finally treated through home visits and medication. The author discusses factors related to the underuse of mental health services by Chicanos and the role of the indigenous therapist. He also suggests how mental health centers can be made more relevant to Chicanos by providing such services as home visits and family therapy.