Culture-bound syndromes are mental health problems with a set of symptoms found and recognised as an illness in a particular culture. They are deemed to be ‘folk illnesses’, which can be treated by ‘folk medicines’.
Many psychiatrists reject the idea of culture-bound syndromes. However, the most commonly recognised ones are now listed in the DSM-IV, showing some signs of improvement.
An example of a culture-bound syndrome:
“One of the best known culture-bound syndromes is ‘amok‘. Typically, a person who ‘runs amok’ will have suffered from public insult, some severe loss or shame. He will become quiet and pressed for a while and then suddenly seize a dangerous weapon (i.e. an axe, sword, gun), run into a public place and start killing people.
A similar phenomenon has been reported from Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Laos, Puerto Rico and among the Native American Navajo.
Amok is a culture-bound syndrome because its occurrence is particularly frequent in certain countries, and takes a recognisable form. The DSM-IV describes this as an impulse control disorder called Intermittent Explosive Disorder. This diagnosis is given to people who lose control of aggressive impulses. unpredictably, on repeated occasions. ”
Culture-bound syndromes can have serious implications on diagnosis, as they do not fit into the DSM.
Sources:
– Brain, C. (2009). Edexcel A2 psychology. London: Philip Allan
– http://www.health24.com/mental-health/disorders/amok-20120721
that psychology blog 