The role of culture on the phenomenology of hallucinations and delusions, explanatory models, and help‐seeking attitudes: A narrative review

Abstract

AimCulture has been posited to be involved in the formation and maintenance of delusions and hallucinations. The extent of these differences and how they affect explanatory models of psychosis and help‐seeking attitudes remains to be understood. This review aims to present a cultural formulation to account for psychosis onset, symptom maintenance, and help‐seeking attitudes.MethodsA narrative review was conducted to summarize the existing evidence base regarding cross‐cultural differences in hallucinatory and delusional prevalence, explanatory models, and help‐seeking attitudes in First Episode Psychosis (FEP) and Non‐FEP Schizophrenia samples.ResultsSixteen studies were eligible for inclusion. In terms of positive symptom specificity, cross‐cultural differences were found. Specifically, auditory and visual hallucinations occurred most frequently in African patients, persecutory and grandiose delusions occurred at higher rates in African, Pakistani, and Latino patients, while delusions of reference were most prevalent in White‐British groups. Three explanatory models were identified. Westerners tended to endorse a bio‐psychosocial explanation, which was associated with increased help‐seeking, engagement, and positive medication attitudes. Asian, Latino, Polish, and Māori patients endorsed religious‐spiritual explanatory models, while African patients opted for a bewitchment model. The religious‐spiritual and bewitchment models were associated with a longer duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) and poorer engagement with mental health services.ConclusionsThese findings highlight the important influence of culture in the formation and maintenance of positive symptoms of psychosis, engagement, and help‐seeking attitudes across different ethnic groups. The incorporation of cultural beliefs in formulation development could facilitate enriched CBTp practices and improved engagement amongst different cultural groups with Early Intervention Services.