Roland Littlewood is Emeritus Professor of Anthropology and Psychiatry at University College, London. Former President of the Royal Anthropological Institute and a founding chair of the RAI's Medical Committee and of the Nafsiyat Intercultural Therapy Centre. His clinical work included fifteen years with a homeless mentally ill project in North London.

Simon Dein practices as a Clinical Psychiatrist and is Visiting Professor of Medical Anthropology at Goldsmiths College. He has carried out fieldwork in London, United States, Italy and Madagascar. He has written five books and is joint editor of the journal Mental Health, Religion and Culture.