Diagnosing Personality Disorder in Africans (Blacks) Using the Azibo Nosology: Two Case Studies

Abstract

A nosology is an organized system for diagnosing diseases, disorders, or pathologies, as opposed to their mere enumeration. The present study compared clinical diagnoses of two African (Black) clients using two distinct diagnostic systems, the Eurocentric DSM-III-R nosology and the Africentric Azibo Nosology. The theoretical and paradigmatic importance of the com- parison is that in Eurocentric psychology and psychiatry the DSM-III-R nosology is the standard diagnostic tool, whereas in the Africentric psychology literature this Eurostandard has been challenged as inadequate regarding the diagnosis of personality disorder in Africans. The practical importance of the comparison is that 18 disorders peculiar to the African personality are found in the Azibo Nosology that have no precedent in the DSM-III-R nosology. Three questions are asked in this study: (1) Does the Azibo Nosology accurately reflect the real life conditions of Africans? (2) Can the Azibo Nosology be effectually employed by a therapist? And, (3) is the Azibo Nosology superior to the DSM-III-R on each of the preceding questions? Based on the results of the two case studies presented, the answer to each of the three questions appears affirmative. Recommendations for conducting psychological practice with African clients are offered.