THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SHORT EXPLANATORY MODEL INTERVIEW (SEMI) AND ITS USE AMONG PRIMARY-CARE ATTENDERS WITH COMMON MENTAL-DISORDERS

Background. Recent anthropological studies have documented the importa nce of understanding the relation of culture to the experience of ment al illness. The use of interviews that elicit explanatory models has f acilitated such research, but currently available interviews are lengt hy and impractical for epidemiological studies. This paper is a prelim inary report on the development of a brief instrument to elicit explan atory models for use in field work. Method. The development of the SEM I, a short interview to elicit explanatory models is described. The in terview explores the subject's cultural background, nature of presenti ng problem, help-seeking behaviour, interaction with physician/healer and beliefs related to mental illness. Results. The SEMI was employed to study the explanatory models of subjects with common mental disorde rs among Whites, African-Caribbean and Asians living in London and was also used in Harare, Zimbabwe. Data from its use in four different et hnic groups is presented with the aim of demonstrating its capacity to show up differences in these varied settings. Conclusions. The simpli city and brevity of the SEMI allow for its use in field studies in dif ferent cultures, data can be used to provide variables for use in quan titative analysis and provide qualitative descriptions.