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Abstract
As our society become more diverse, there is increasingly a growing need to think thoroughly, about standard of normality, deviation, and abnormality of human behavior.
In order to overview different aspects sharing in the formulation of that behavior and thus behavioral anomalies and breakdowns, which are ultimately culturally shaped and determined.
We have to consider cultural issues, and identify the effect of culture in shaping different symptoms in various psychiatric disorders across different cultures and ethnic groups which led to variations in the language of expression of different sufferings of human beings in diverse clinical settings.
As we discuss definitions and concepts of culture and throw the light on concepts of ethnicity, society and anthropology, it is important to understand how culture enhances and affect clinical psychiatry stating from interviewing the patient, understanding different ways of expression of different disorders, in order to reach appropriate diagnosis and treatment plans more congruent with the patient’s cultural background.
An examination of psychiatric disorders in different cultural settings, suggests the existence of universal symptom pattern in major psychiatric disorders, what differs from culture to culture is the cultural coloring of beliefs, delusions and behavioral pattern as well as differences in the kind, severity and location of pathogenic factors in various western or eastern countries.
The practice of psychotherapy is a complex matter. The process is determined by various factors, including the nature of the psychological problems faced by the patient, the character strengths of the patient, the patient’s usual coping mechanisms, the motivation for therapy, the therapist-patient relationship, the therapist’s treatment strategies and techniques, the stage of treatment and ongoing developments, the goals of therapy, and any potential socioeconomic restrictions affecting the length or type of treatment. Beyond these general clinical and social factors, cultural issues may powerfully influence the process and outcome of psychotherapy and, therefore, deserve special attention. Cultural considerations are clearly important when the patient’s cultural background differs from that of the therapist or when culture-specific problems or syndromes are being treated. This is usually the case when the patient belongs to a special population group, such as immigrants or minorities, including those defined by race, ethnicity, social status, sexual preference, or physical handicap.
Cultures may objectify healing through medicines. Medicines facilitate particular social and symbolic processes. This may be considered the “symbolic” effect of medication, compared with the pharmacological or “instrumental” effect. The symbolic effect includes imbued characteristics, such as the “life” or “healing power” of a drug, and the attribution of value. Patients may experience and associate certain emotions with the use of certain medications. Medication can be viewed as a metaphor (e.g., for more personal autonomy). We discussed how these symbolic effects might be based on cultural beliefs about characteristics of the medications and about alternative treatments have been re-viewed by other authors. These beliefs, in turn, have an impact on both compliance and placebo response.
Culture influences help-seeking behavior and also expressed emotions and this is obvious in multicultural societies.