Chronic Pain Presenting as Major Depression in a Cross-Cultural Setting

Abstract

We report on a female African immigrant who developed chronic pain as a consequence of osteomalacia. Due to cultural particularities in pain expression, her symptoms were first attributed to a major depressive episode. Cultural factors influencing pain perception and expression are reviewed. The importance of working with competent interpreters in cross-cultural settings is emphasized.

Prevalence of Severe Hypovitaminosis D in Patients With Persistent, Nonspecific Musculoskeletal Pain

“…[33][34][35] All patients were at risk for misdiagnosis and suboptimal treatment of their pain condition. [36][37][38][39][40] Delayed diagnosis of hypovitaminosis D may be due to its presumed rarity in the United States. Fortified milk is the most readily available dietary source, but there may be both cultural 41 and physiological 42 barriers to its consump-tion.…”

Effect of an Interdisciplinary Outpatient Pain Management Program (IOPP) for Chronic Pain Patients with and without Migration Background: A Prospective, Observational Clinical Study

“…As such, ethnicity may be particularly central in the domain of pain experience. Thus, culture, as well as ethnicity, may influence pain complaints through a variety of mechanisms, i.e., language barriers may directly impact the expression of pain [15], and perceived discriminatory experiences may activate certain emotional and physiological responses in persons with a specific profile under particular circumstances [16].…”

The Situation-Specific Theory of Pain Experience for Asian American Cancer Patients

“…[33][34][35] For example, some cultural norms may encourage stoicism in the face of pain resulting in the underreporting of pain, 28,35 a phenomenon confirmed by the DSCP study. Asian Americans, African Americans, and Hispanics all had stoic attitudes toward their cancer pain.…”