Cross-Cultural Aspects of Trauma and Dissociation

Abstract

Abstract The importance of culture and the cross-cultural manifestions of trauma and dissociation was presented. A discussion of culture and psychopathology was shown, noting that although psychiatric disorders appear in all cultures, their form and expression may vary often in a way that is linked to cultural belief systems. The Culture-Bound Syndromes of amok, ataque de Nervios, falling out or blacking out, latah, nervios, pibloktoq, qi-gong psychotic reaction, shin-byung, spell, susto, and zar, seen as having dissociative symptoms, were then presented with relevant research. The Possession Trance Disorder was also presented as a cultural disorder. Finally, therapeutic considerations to better facilitate cultural sensitivity were noted.