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A comprehensive literature search was conducted across Google Scholar, PubMed, and PsycINFO, ultimately shortlisting 24 methodologically sound studies relevant to cultural interpretations of mental health. Data extraction focused on themes such as spiritual beliefs, indigenous healing practices, the cultural framing of lycanthropy, and the role of modernization in shaping local perceptions of distress. Findings indicate that Nagaland\u2019s cultural narratives and communal belief systems strongly influence how distress is experienced, conceptualized, and addressed. Lycanthropy, often perceived as a delusional disorder in Western psychiatry, is regarded by many communities in Nagaland as a spiritual affliction or culturally rooted manifestation of distress. Moreover, traditional healers and ritual practices continue to play a critical role in managing mental health concerns, even as modern psychiatric approaches gain visibility. By highlighting the intersection of cultural beliefs, supernatural interpretations, and communal coping strategies, this review emphasizes the importance of integrating indigenous perspectives with contemporary mental health care. Such culturally sensitive, hybrid interventions can bridge long standing traditions with modern practices, ultimately fostering more holistic and effective approaches to mental well-being in Nagaland.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1007\/s44192-025-00295-2","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,13]],"date-time":"2025-11-13T14:23:29Z","timestamp":1763043809000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/springer_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":2,"title":["Social constructivist analysis of cultural concepts of distress and lycanthropy in Nagaland India"],"prefix":"10.1007","volume":"5","author":[{"given":"Saranya","family":"TS","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Kiniholi","family":"Yepthomi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"297","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,13]]},"reference":[{"key":"295_CR1","volume-title":"Contemporary security studies","author":"C Agius","year":"2022","unstructured":"Agius C. Social constructivism. In: Collins A, editor. Contemporary security studies. 6th ed. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press; (2023), 87-103.","edition":"6"},{"key":"295_CR2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"510","DOI":"10.1016\/j.sbspro.2015.04.083","volume":"186","author":"RJ Amineh","year":"2015","unstructured":"Amineh RJ, Davatgari Asl H. Review of constructivism and social constructivism. Procedia \u2013 Soc Behav Sci. 2015;186:510\u20134. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.sbspro.2015.04.083.","journal-title":"Procedia \u2013 Social Behav Sci"},{"key":"295_CR3","unstructured":"Aye K. (2022). Human-animal transitions: a case study of S\u00fcmi lycanthropy. [Article\/working paper]."},{"key":"295_CR4","volume-title":"The social construction of reality: A treatise in the sociology of knowledge","author":"PL Berger","year":"1966","unstructured":"Berger PL, Luckmann T. The social construction of reality: a treatise in the sociology of knowledge. Garden City, NY, USA: Doubleday; 1966."},{"key":"295_CR5","unstructured":"Bettini JL. (2022). The rage of the wolf: Metamorphosis and identity in medieval werewolf tales."},{"issue":"5","key":"295_CR6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"290","DOI":"10.1159\/000492339","volume":"51","author":"JD Blom","year":"2018","unstructured":"Blom JD, Hoffer C. Lycanthropy revisited: delusion or cultural belief? Psychopathology. 2018;51(5):290\u20137. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1159\/000492339.","journal-title":"Psychopathology"},{"issue":"1","key":"295_CR7","first-page":"45","volume":"12","author":"N Das","year":"2024","unstructured":"Das N. Cosmology, ecology, and spirituality: reappraising stone culture, Genna tradition, and ancestor veneration among the Naga tribes. J Tribal Stud. 2024;12(1):45\u201364.","journal-title":"J Tribal Stud"},{"key":"295_CR8","volume-title":"An invitation to social construction","author":"KJ Gergen","year":"2009","unstructured":"Gergen KJ. An invitation to social construction. 2nd ed. London, UK: SAGE; 2009.","edition":"2"},{"issue":"2","key":"295_CR9","first-page":"101","volume":"39","author":"GK Gill","year":"2023","unstructured":"Gill GK, Singh S. Tribal mental health and belief systems in India. Indian J Social Psychiatry. 2023;39(2):101\u201310.","journal-title":"Indian J Social Psychiatry"},{"issue":"6","key":"295_CR10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"548","DOI":"10.1016\/j.encep.2021.02.009","volume":"47","author":"SB Guessoum","year":"2021","unstructured":"Guessoum SB, Benoit L, Minassian S, Mallet J, Moro MR. Clinical lycanthropy, neurobiology, culture: a systematic review. L\u2019Enc\u00e9phale. 2021;47(6):548\u201357. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.encep.2021.02.009.","journal-title":"L\u2019Enc\u00e9phale"},{"issue":"4","key":"295_CR11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1514","DOI":"10.4103\/jfmpc.jfmpc_1680_20","volume":"10","author":"NM Hansda","year":"2021","unstructured":"Hansda NM, Singh U, Kapse PP, Kiran M. Supernatural attitude and mental health practices among the tribal\u2014with special reference to Jharkhand. J Family Med Prim Care. 2021;10(4):1514\u201320. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.4103\/jfmpc.jfmpc_1680_20.","journal-title":"J Family Med Prim Care"},{"key":"295_CR12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.4324\/9781315102940","volume-title":"Agency and knowledge in Northeast india: the life and landscapes of Dreams","author":"MT Heneise","year":"2019","unstructured":"Heneise MT. Agency and knowledge in Northeast india: the life and landscapes of Dreams. 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The research protocol adhered to institutional guidelines and ethical standards for studies involving cultural and psychological research. Not applicable, as the present work is a systematic review and did not involve direct participation of human subjects.Not applicable, as the present work is a systematic review and did not involve direct participation of human subjects.","order":2,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Ethics approval and consent to participate"}},{"value":"Not applicable, as the study did not involve identifiable personal data, case studies, or participant-specific information.","order":3,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Consent to publication"}},{"value":"The authors declare no competing interests.","order":4,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Competing interests"}}],"article-number":"174"}}