Cultural+and+ethical+considerations+in+diagnosis

=Cultural considerations=

Reading
[|Culture-bound syndromes listed in the DSM-IV-TR (with explanations)] [|Research on culture bound syndromes - new directions]

Considerations
Many societies are becoming increasingly diverse culturally (eg. America, Australia) Raises questions
 * Clinicians need to be aware of syndromes that have a cultural basis
 * If syndromes are looked at through the lens of the clinician's society (his/her own cultural context) and made to 'fit' an already existing classification system, then important elements can be overlooked, resulting in misdiagnosis, or over or under-diagnosis.
 * Can a universal diagnostic system be truly successful? (one that covers all syndromes by relating the symptoms to a system's -such as the DSM - standard categorization of symptoms, thus looking for a direct link to a specific disorder. This means you fit the syndrome's dominant symptoms to an already existing framework. Consider the problems with this)
 * Should all disorders be considered in a cultural context? (eg. eating disorders are regarded often as disorders specific to the West)

Point 1
Explain cultural variation in prevalence of depression - use the same info from the last learning outcome under 'Psychological Disorders' Explanations of cultural variation
 * Weisman et al (1996) - cross-cultural variation in data
 * Marsella et al (2002) - rates of depression increasing globally -> is it becoming a universal disorder?
 * Dutton - cultural variations in stress, standards of living and reporting bias
 * issue of stigma - different for different cultures
 * Where you live - urban vs rural -> urbanization (Marsella 1995) = increased stress
 * urban crowding, education issues, poor living and working conditions, differences in social support

Point 2
Explain cultural variation in prevalence of anorexia - use the same info from the last learning outcome under 'Psychological Disorders'
 * Westernization hypothesis
 * eating disorders more common in the West
 * influence of media - social pressure to conform to standards of beauty
 * Cultural variation in prevalence of anorexia

=Ethical considerations=

Point 1: Labeling
[|Diagnostic labeling of the mentally ill and the resulting stigma]

Point 2: Stereotyping and overdiagnosis
[|Racial bias and labeling]

Point 3: The impact of misdiagnosis
[|Asperger's history of overdiagnosis - the problem of putting Asperger's syndrome on the autism spectrum]