Culture-sensitive therapy and salutogenesis: treating Israeli Bedouin of the Negev

Int Rev Psychiatry. 2011 Dec;23(6):550-4. doi: 10.3109/09540261.2011.637904.

Abstract

The Salutogenesis theory and its essential component, the sense of coherence (SOC) is an epigenetic concept. The SOC was defined as a 'way of being in the world'. As such it is most important that one's SOC will be intact for healthy mental status. Collisions between western and non-western cultures might interfere in the process of psychiatric and psychotherapeutic treatment. This review demonstrates the importance of a culture-sensitive approach and therapy and the usefulness of specific culture-sensitive services for certain non-western populations. We illustrate this approach by giving the example of the unique ways of treatment carried out among the Bedouin of the Negev region of Israel.

MeSH terms

  • Arabs* / ethnology
  • Arabs* / psychology
  • Communication Barriers
  • Cultural Characteristics*
  • Cultural Competency / psychology*
  • Cultural Diversity*
  • Female
  • Health Promotion
  • Healthcare Disparities / organization & administration
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mental Disorders* / ethnology
  • Mental Disorders* / psychology
  • Mental Disorders* / therapy
  • Mental Health / standards
  • Physician-Patient Relations
  • Psychotherapy / methods
  • Quality of Health Care
  • Sense of Coherence*
  • Social Work, Psychiatric / methods
  • Social Work, Psychiatric / standards