Culture and Psychological Disorders

Psychological disorders occur in most, if not all, cultures of the world. However, there are differences in the way in which they are perceived, diagnosed, and treated. For example, in the United States, disorders are typically diagnosed using the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, and treatment of disorders such as schizophrenia and depression usually involves drugs, psychotherapy, or a combination of these. Other cultures (and even some subcultures within the U.S.) have very different ways of addressing such conditions. For example, what American mental health professionals recognize as schizophrenia may be perceived as spiritual possession in another culture, and the treatment would, of course, be very different from how schizophrenia as a mental disorder is treated.

In this week's Discussion, you will compare how mental illness or psychological disorders are experienced by people suffering from them, perceived by the culture in general, and diagnosed and treated by healers in at least one culture different from your own. You should recognize that cultural differences in psychological disorders may be due to a variety of factors, including what is considered appropriate emotional expression, the extent to which biological factors are understood as causes of mental illness (i.e., adherence to the medical model of mental illness), and belief in supernatural forces.

To prepare for this Discussion:

Select a specific disorder from those covered in Brain and Behavior and review information about the causes, symptoms, and treatment of that disorder.

Locate a research or review article from the Walden Library's database of journals (e.g., using a database of full-text articles such as PsycARTICLES) that describes the disorder as it is experienced, perceived, diagnosed, and/or treated in another culture.

With these thoughts in mind:

Post by Day 4 a brief explanation of how the condition you selected is experienced, perceived, diagnosed, and treated within the U.S. Then, describe how it is experienced, perceived, diagnosed, and/or treated in at least one other culture. Briefly describe the similarities and differences between the two cultures with respect to how the condition is experienced, perceived, diagnosed, and treated. Finally, explain what you believe to be some possible reasons for the cultural differences.

Note: Put the disorder and culture you selected in the first line of your post. You will be asked to respond to a colleague who selected a different disorder and/or culture than you did.

Be sure to support your postings and responses with specific references to the Learning Resources.

Read a selection of your colleagues' postings.

Respond by Day 6 to at least one of your colleagues' postings. Be sure to respond to a colleague who selected a different disorder and/or culture than you did.

Respond in one or more of the following ways:

Ask a probing question.
Offer and support an opinion.
Make a suggestion.
Expand on your colleague's posting.

Return to this Discussion in a few days to read the responses to your initial posting. Note what you have learned and/or any insights you have gained as a result of the comments your colleagues made.

Resources to use:

Learning Resources

Please read and view (where applicable) the following Learning Resources before you complete this week's assignments.

Readings

Course Text: Garrett, B. (2015). Brain and Behavior: An Introduction to Biological Psychology, (4th ed.). Los Angeles: Sage.

Chapter 8, "Emotion and Health" (pp. 231-259)
Chapter 14, "Psychological Disorders" (pp. 439-478)

An article from the Walden Library that describes a specific disorder covered in Brain and Behavior as it is experienced, perceived, diagnosed, and/or treated in another culture. The article must be a research or review article.

Websites

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd/index.shtml

This Web site contains information on the causes, symptoms, and treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.