Adaptation and translation of mental health interventions in Middle Eastern Arab countries: A systematic review of barriers to and strategies for effective treatment implementation

Abstract

Mental disorders are a significant individual, family and societal burden experienced in countries and cultures throughout the world (WHO, 2001). From limited research, the prevalence of mental illness in the Middle East has been found to be comparable to other parts of the world (Karam et al., 2006), with overall 12-month prevalence rates of 17% and lifetime rates of 33% (Kessler et al., 2007; WHO World Mental Health Survey Consortium, 2004). Compared to individuals in western countries, however, those in the Middle East with mental illness receive treatment at considerably lower rates (

Primary Caregivers of People with Severe Mental Illness Experience of Anti-Psychotic Medication: Findings from the Semi-Structured Interviews

“…This delays in seeking appropriate psychiatric helps resulting in deterioration in client psychiatric symptoms. Consistently, a recent studies by Gearing et al (2013) and Aloud and Rathur (2009) reported that beliefs and values were the main barriers and challenges for Arab individuals in Middle Eastern-Arab countries with mental illness accessing mental health services or participating in psychosocial treatments and service implementation. Likewise, this finding are supported by another studies on Arab-Muslim population which found a lack of understanding magnifies stigma and tend to tolerate mental health problems for long time before considering any formal treatment (Al-Adawi et al, 2002;Okasha, 1999).…”

Arab American Marriage: Culture, Tradition, Religion, and the Social Worker

“…The second main influx occurred after the 1948 declaration of Israel and the event known as the Nakba where thousands of Arab people were terrorized and displaced within Israel and throughout the neighboring countries (Ghanim, 2011). These people were already traumatized by events in their homeland but relatively ignored as such in America (Al Krenawi, 2012;Gearing et al, 2013). These misplaced Arabs from Israel and surrounds were leaving some family behind and moving to a country that supported Palestinians' oppressors: Israel.…”

“…The prevailing attitude was one of Arab nationalism against meddlesome Russian, American, and European powers seen to be supporting diverse loyalties throughout the region for their own gain rather than for what made sense locally (Erickson & Al-Timimi, 2001;Gearing et al, 2013). Many immigrants in this third wave also experienced a much cooler reception in the United States as America became far more involved in Middle Eastern affairs.…”

“…Practitioners must accept that religious practice may provide the soothing that Downloaded by [Australian National University] at 14:21 15 March 2015 replaces the need for drugs or similar (Boddie & Cnaan, 2006;Ghaffari & Çiftçi, 2009). With lack of proper understanding of faith and perception, there are real fears of misdiagnosis and mistreatment (Abudabbeh, 2005;Al-Krenawi, 2005b;Al-Krenawi & Graham, 2006;Cross and Bloomer, 2010;Ferguson, 2004;Gearing et al, 2013). Cross and Bloomer (2010) quote two very important questions raised by Kleinman: "To what extent do psychiatric disorders differ in different societies [and] : : : Does the standard approach to cross-cultural research in psychiatry commit a 'category fallacy' (presupposing that Western diagnostic categories are culture-free entities)?"…”

“…This lack might explain why, in a recent review of literature on the subject of social work and mental health intervention with Arab families, which would include considerable dealing with marital and familial conflicts, Gearing et al (2013) found 78 potential barriers and challenges to productive social work: 42.5% of them because of misunderstanding the cultural context. Hodge (2005) found that 86% of Muslim respondents in the United States felt it important that counselors should have an understanding of Islamic principles.…”