Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: Cross-Cultural Aspects

Abstract

This paper discusses the cross-cultural aspects of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The history of the concept is traced, and the early work on traumatic stress is reviewed. The occurrence of traumatic stress reactions, including the syndrome of PTSD, in different settings and different cultures is then discussed. Reactions to natural disasters, such as floods and earthquakes, and man-made disasters such as industrial accidents, have been reported from diverse cultures, and these are selectively reviewed. The effects of warfare and related events are also discussed. It is clear that psychological stress reactions to traumatic events occur in diverse societies and cultures. The influence of cultural factors on the manifestation of these reactions, and how they might be relevant to the treatment of PTSD and other stress reactions, are commented on.