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Questions and Answers
What is the primary requirement for diagnosing Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)?
Which of the following is an example of a culture-bound concept of distress?
How does the symptom presentation of depression vary across cultures?
What key factor differentiates therapeutic approaches among mental health practitioners?
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Which statement accurately reflects cultural differences in the experience of depression?
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What characterizes a psychological disorder?
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Which of the following is an example of a culture-bound concept of distress?
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How does cultural variation affect the presentation of depression?
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What is one way to differentiate between various therapeutic approaches?
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Why is cultural responsiveness important among mental health practitioners?
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Which of these statements about social anxiety across cultures is correct?
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What is a significant challenge in defining psychological disorders across cultures?
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What is a key criterion for diagnosing Social Anxiety Disorder?
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Which concept refers specifically to the fear of confronting others, often seen in East Asian cultures?
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How does cultural variation affect the experience of schizophrenia in different regions?
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Which of the following is considered a negative symptom associated with schizophrenia?
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Which factor is associated with lower suicide rates among First Nations youth in Canada?
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What is a common therapeutic approach that emphasizes understanding a patient's cultural background?
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What percentage of East Asians have reported experiencing social anxiety symptoms?
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In which cultural context is social approval particularly valued, often leading to heightened social anxiety?
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What type of schizophrenia is characterized by a lack of motor activity or response to stimuli?
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What is a primary reason for the higher recovery rates of schizophrenia in less industrialized societies?
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Study Notes
Defining Mental Health Conditions
- Psychological disorders are typically defined as behaviors that are rare and impair the individual.
- Definitions of “rare” and “problematic” vary across cultures.
Social Anxiety Disorder
- Criteria:
- Fear of social situations with unfamiliar people
- Exposure to the feared social situation leads to anxiety
- Recognition that fear is excessive
- Avoidance of the situation interferes with normal routine
- Two major methods of study:
- Reporting symptoms on surveys
- Clinical diagnoses through interviews
- Interdependence strongly correlates with self-reports
- East Asians report more symptoms than Westerners.
- East Asians: about 0.5% lifetime prevalence
- North Americans: about 7%
- Social approval is valued more in interdependent cultures
- Social anxiety is seen as more natural.
Taijin Kyofushou (TKS)
- Fear of confronting others
- Also triggered by social situations
- Primary concern with (imaginary) physical symptoms:
- Body odor
- Blushing
- Sweating
- Penetrating gaze
- Chief concern: others’ discomfort
- The “altruistic phobia”
- Worst around acquaintances, not strangers.
Schizophrenia
- Highly challenging; appears universal
- Criteria: 2+ symptoms over a significant time period:
- Delusions
- Hallucinations
- Disorganized speech
- Grossly disorganized or catatonic behavior
- Negative symptoms (e.g., loss of speech, flat affect)
- A combination of genetics, prenatal experiences, and neuroanatomy.
- Less cultural variation than most mental disorders.
Schizophrenia Subtypes
- Significant variation in schizophrenia subtypes:
- Paranoid Schizophrenia
- Characterised by delusional visions
- ~75% of cases in the UK
- ~ 15% in India
- Catatonic Schizophrenia
- Lack of motor activity/response to stimuli
- ~1-3% of cases in the UK
- ~20% in India
- Paranoid Schizophrenia
Recovery Rates for Schizophrenia
- Much higher recovery rates in less industrialized societies
- Opposite pattern as most physical and mental illnesses
- Cause unknown
- Possible explanations:
- Hallucinations and belief in spirit possession more common in less industrialized societies, and thus not considered abnormal
- Often stronger sense of community in less-developed societies that provides support.
Importance of Cultural Connection
- Losing connection between one’s cultural narrative and modern society (i.e., lack of cultural continuity) is associated with the risk of suicide.
- Example: First Nations youth in Canada:
- Low identification with traditional culture due to Western colonization, but often unable to relate to mainstream/settler Canadian culture
- More connections with traditional culture predict lower suicide rates.
Indicators of Cultural Connection
- Connection to cultural history indicated by:
- Political self-government
- Control over educational services
- Cultural facilities promoting community’s history
- Control over policing/law enforcement
- Negotiating a land claim with the government
- The more these indicators are present, the lower the suicide rate.
Cultural Connection and Wellbeing
- Cultural connection is important to promoting well-being, not only to reducing the risk of harm.
- Similar patterns emerge with different Indigenous cultures, highlighting the importance of (among others):
- Traditional language
- Traditional foods
- Connection to Country/land
- Cultural stories/teachings
- Spiritual practices.
Treating Mental Illness
- Treatment of psychological disorders varies across cultures.
- Many forms of treatment are universal.
Universal Conditions
- Culture-bound concepts of distress: large example of difference
- Several psychopathologies appear universal
- Key Differences:
- Relative Prevalence
- Symptom Presentation
Depression
- Major depressive disorder (MDD): diagnosis requires people to exhibit at least five of nine symptoms:
- Depressed mood
- Inability to feel pleasure
- Change in weight or appetite
- Sleep problems
- Psychomotor change
- Fatigue or loss of energy
- Feeling worthless or guilty
- Poor concentration
- Suicidality.
Depression Prevalence
- Appears universal
- Large differences in prevalence
- Rates vary based on diagnostic criteria
- Rates in China ~20% of those in USA
- Rates in Nigeria 4x those in USA
Depression Symptoms
- People with depression exhibit different symptoms.
- Cultural variability in types or manifestation of symptoms:
- Somatization: physical symptoms (e.g., sleep disturbances, headaches)
- Psychologization: psychological symptoms (e.g., depressed mood, crying).
Neurasthenia
- In China, more than 50 symptoms, including fatigue, poor appetite, headaches, insomnia, back weakness.
- Dropped from the DSM because symptoms were considered less important than the underlying illness.
- Some argue that most with this syndrome could be described as suffering from depression, even though only 9% reported depressed mood as a key symptom.
Depression and Cultural Norms
- In many Western cultural contexts, depression leads to:
- Less reaction to positive and negative stimuli
- Emotional numbness
- Study of (non) depressed Euro-Americans and East Asians:
- Watched neutral, sad, amusing film
- Emotions assessed
- No difference for neutral and amusing.
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Description
This quiz explores the definitions and criteria for social anxiety disorders, including cultural variations in experience and reporting. It also touches on the specific condition of Taijin Kyofushou, highlighting its unique aspects and concerns. Test your understanding of psychological concepts related to social anxiety and cultural influences.
