cultural differences

• Scientific: culture does not affect diagnosis as mental disorders are scientific 

  Explains that mental disorders are scientific and therefore are the same in all cultures 
• Spiritual model: culture does effect diagnosis 

  Spiritual model highlights the idea that other cultures experience symptoms in a more positive form thinking of them as possession from spirit  
• Cultural differences in SZ(AO1) Luhmann et al

  • cultural differences include attitude towards the voices 
  • Some cultures though of voices as a positive experience
  • However in USA all attitude towards voice gearing experience was negative and in San Mateo they were more likely to view voice as an assault 
• Different outcomes of disorders e.g. SZ in different cultures?

  • outside western world schizophrenia has a more begnin outcome making it more manageable and less dysfunctional 
• • clinical bias :clinician of a non western viewpoint in diagnosis may provide more cultural and less scientific explanations of mental health diagnosis such as claiming that the voices they were hearing were positive messages from higher power
• Lee (2006) study the Korean children with ADHD experienced the same well known ADHD symptoms of hyperactivity and impulsivity as well as fitting in with other symptoms that aligned with the DSM and teachers notes. Another factor that also applies to the study and other cultures is that the ADHD criteria is known to be less fitting for girls which was also outlined in the study in the Korean children.
• • Lin (1996) Lin found that throughout cultures symptoms stayed the same the difference was the attitude towards it 
  • However more developed countries showed more positive outcomes likely  due to the more support available 
• • DSM takes into account cultural differences through changing  phrases to better fit societal norms such as Japanese social anxiety including the fear of offending others which includes Japanese concept which is avoiding harming others
  • There is also a manual which addresses the different way other cultures talk about psychological problems including idioms
  • A cultural formulation interview guide can also help clinicians access the influence of culture in perspective to their symptoms  
• importance of cultural classification systems is that

  • in other cultures mental health may not be very widely spoken about which can cause someone to explain their symptoms in a way that minimises the effect on their lives. It is also important as in different cultures there are different norms and beliefs and without having classification systems people may have their symptoms misinterpreted by clinicians