Relevance of culture‐bound syndromes in the 21st century

Abstract

Culture-bound syndromes were first described over 60 years ago. The underlying premise was that certain psychiatric syndromes are confined to specific cultures. There is no doubt that cultures influence how symptoms are perceived, explained and from where help is sought. Cultures determine what idioms of distress are employed to express distress. Rapid globalization and industrialization have made the world a smaller place and cultures are being more influenced by other cultures. This has led to social and economic changes in parts of the world where such syndromes were seen more frequently. In this review we illustrate these changes using the example of dhat syndrome (semen-loss anxiety). The number of syndromes in the DSM-5 has been reduced, acknowledging that these syndromes may be changing their presentations. Clinicians need to be aware of social and economic changes that may affect presentation of various psychiatric syndromes.

Culture-bound syndromes in migratory contexts: the case of Bolivian immigrants

“…Mental Health and Transcultural Psychiatry is the field that has dedicated increasing attention to these health conditions and has devoted its best efforts in their classification and categorization 6 - 7 .…”

Are culture‐bound syndromes on the verge of extinction?

“…10 On the other hand, the Chinese and some other countries may move to a more culture-specific classification of mental health. 1 Ventriglio and colleagues suggest that psychiatrists need to urgently debate the merits of a universalist versus relativistic classification. Potentially, however, they suggest that 'better understanding across cultures will lead to more balanced and nuanced approaches to diagnostic categories'.…”

“…Potentially, however, they suggest that 'better understanding across cultures will lead to more balanced and nuanced approaches to diagnostic categories'. 1 Indeed, better understanding of culture-bound syndromes will help uncover the multitude of factors that contribute to idioms of distress from Tokyo to Tallahassee to Tewksbury, and thereby aid management. Perhaps the extinction of culture-bound syndromes might not be before time.…”

“…7 Changing patterns Culture-bound syndromes may reflect the dominance of western diagnostic and nosological classifications and, Ventriglio and colleagues comment, the 'longstanding impact of colonialism'. 1 For instance, dhat-like syndromes ascribed to semen loss though nocturnal emissions or masturbation have been experienced by men in the Americas, China, Europe and Russia at different points in history. 2 In the west, the syndrome became a medical curiosity.…”

“…Dhat, for example, describes extreme anxiety surrounding semen loss. 1,2 People with koro fear that their genitals are disappearing into their abdomen. 3 Yoruba people in Nigeria experiencing ode ori -literally 'hunter of the head' -report feeling as if an organism is crawling through their head and other parts of the body.…”