“Orongo” and “Cen” Spirit Possessions - Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in a Cultural Context: Local Problem, Universal Disorder with Local Solutions in Northern Uganda

Abstract

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a universal condition that results from the experience of severe and life-threatening traumatic events. Though PTSD is a relatively new diagnostic entity and appeared in the American psychiatric diagnostic system in 1980, its existence dates as back as 490 BC. Further, it appears that the concept of PTSD has in fact existed in traditional Acholi illness concepts in Northern Uganda, where violent conflicts between communities have occurred for ages before the arrival of modern psychiatric practice. PTSD resulting from violence appears to be associated with traumatic experiences of humans following hunting expeditions too. In this chapter, a mental disorder conceptualized in Acholi culture similar to modern PTSD is described. In doing so, the chapter details three rituals the Acholi people have, and continue to employ in restoring positive mental health, and in preventing the development of poor mental health and PTSD.