Transcultural Perceptions of Bipolar Disorder in the West African Sub-region: A Mixed-Methods Systematic Review

Background: Bipolar disorder (BD) is a major mental illness of global concern. Cultural perceptions in various societies have a bearing on the presentation, management, and prognosis of this condition. The West African sub-region is home to diverse cultures. It is therefore important to understand the perceptions of BD across various West African cultures to formulate culturally sensitive approaches for managing the disorder. The aim of this mixed-method systematic literature review is to explore the cultural perceptions of BD across West Africa. Methods: We conducted a comprehensive literature search of Ovid Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, EBSCO CINAHL, Ovid Embase, Ovid Medline, Ovid PsycINFO, Scopus, and Web of Science Core Collection for studies on cultural perceptions of BD in West Africa. Results: A total of 615 records were found, 10 of which met the inclusion criteria and were included in the final analysis. Our findings indicate that research on cultural perceptions of BD is meager and limited mainly to Ghana and Nigeria. A prominent cultural factor identified was the role of spirituality in BD. This had implications for the health-seeking behaviors of patients and caregivers. Limitations: Search was limited to English language. Conclusion: BD is perceived to have spiritual causes within the West African sub-region. Thus, there is a preference for combining medical treatment with spiritual practices. Research into the development and implementation of such treatment combinations is strongly encouraged.