Culturally Bound Syndromes and Symptoms.

Controversy: Culturally Bound Syndromes and Symptoms. For this discussion, you will enter into another conversation on an ongoing controversy and contemporary issue regarding abnormal psychology. Specifically, are there psychological syndromes and symptoms that appear only in certain cultures? Because this topic is not covered explicitly in your course textbook, it is absolutely essential to read the Wen-Shing (2006) article, guidelines 1, 2 and 5 from the “Guidelines on Multicultural Education, Training, Research, Practice, and Organizational Change for Psychologists.” As you enter into this conversation, carefully consider the following: · Historical information you read regarding the discovery and identification of symptoms and syndromes that could potentially be bound to specific cultures (e.g., eating disorders: do they look different in different cultural contexts?) · Relate this information to the current ethical, clinical, and social considerations when working with individuals from diverse backgrounds (e.g., A counselor working with a first generation, Asian-American, female with Anorexia Nervosa might want to consider the familial pressure to succeed and to self-sacrifice when developing a treatment plan) · Interpret specific symptoms and syndromes as they relate to abnormal behavior from a culturally sensitive standpoint (e.g., An Asian-American client might put more emphasis on physical symptoms of distress depending on level of acculturation) · Be sure to integrate knowledge of any appropriate cultural considerations psychologists must be aware of when working with individuals from backgrounds dissimilar to their own (e.g., A counselor working with this client might want to consult the literature and to receive consultation as needed. He/she might also want to discuss with the client the degree to which race “enters the room” and the degree to which the client is comfortable with the psychotherapy process and counselor-client match).