title: Cross-cultural comparison of explanatory models of illness in schizophrenic patients in Jordan and Germany.
abstract: This study investigated illness concepts of schizophrenic patients in an Arab-Islamic and a western European cultural background. 24 Jordanian and 23 German inpatients were interviewed using an illness concept scale and a causal belief questionnaire. Jordanian patients tend to believe more in esoteric factors underlying their illness, and they perceive the illness to be more threatening. There were no differences regarding biological explanations of illness and trust in medication; however, Jordanian patients reported more trust in the treating physician. Nearly all patients mentioned psychosocial stress as an important factor underlying their illness. Concerning treatment, only Jordanian patients believed religion to be an important factor and mentioned distance from the family as beneficial. The study highlights that culturally specific factors influence illness concepts of schizophrenic patients from an Arab-Islamic and a western European cultural background. Knowledge of these illness concepts is important to establish a helpful relationship between physician and patient.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University of Bonn, Sigmund Freud Strasse 25, 53105 Bonn, Germany. Rupert.Conrad@ukb.uni-bonn.de
authors.forename: Rupert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Conrad
authors.forename: Guntram
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Schilling
authors.forename: Daniah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Najjar
authors.forename: Franziska
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Geiser
authors.forename: Mahmoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sharif
authors.forename: Reinhard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Liedtke
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003469:Culture; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D007597:Jordan; D008297:Male; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000208:ethnology*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology