Unit 5 Module 5 M5 Assignment 2 Discussion 981634

Unit 5 Module 5 M5 Assignment 2 Discussionassignment 2 Discussion

Due to the ever-evolving technology, particularly related to the Internet and cell phones, our world is becoming better and better connected across oceans, continents, and cultures. There are many benefits to this increased connectedness. However, there are some negative effects, as well. One example is the effect that Western society is having on Far Eastern societies’ expressions of certain forms of mental illnesses. In the article “The Americanization of Mental Illness” (Watters, 2010), the author discusses how the symptoms of anorexia nervosa, an eating disorder, were different in China than in Western countries.

A psychiatrist and researcher, Dr. Sing Lee, was studying this Chinese version of the eating disorder, which did not have much in common with the Western version. The Chinese with anorexia did not seem to diet or fear becoming fat, as most in the West do. Instead, they seemed to complain mainly of bloated stomachs. In 1994, in the midst of his research, a teenage girl in Hong Kong died after fainting on a city street.

The death was in the news, and reporters wrote about the death by citing the DSM from the United States. Their widespread publication of those symptoms in light of this girl’s death seems to have begun a change in how the illness is now expressed in China. Now, more individuals are developing Western-style symptoms consistent with the DSM list of criteria. It seems the Western definition has traveled to China and has begun to transform how that illness is expressed there. Review this article at the following: Watters, E. (2010, January 8). “The Americanization of mental illness.” The New York Times, p. MM40. (ProQuest Document ID).

Paper For Above instruction

The dissemination of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) across global cultures presents both opportunities and challenges. While it provides a standardized approach to diagnosing mental illnesses, its cultural applicability can pose significant risks. Two primary concerns relate to the potential misdiagnosis of culturally specific expressions of distress and the ethical implications of applying Western diagnoses to children and adolescents from diverse cultural backgrounds.

Firstly, a key risk associated with the global spread of DSM definitions is the misdiagnosis of culturally specific expressions of psychological distress. Mental health symptoms often manifest uniquely across different cultures owing to distinct cultural beliefs, norms, and language nuances. For example, cultural concepts like "ataque de nervios" in Latin American contexts or "khyâl attacks" in Southeast Asia reflect somatic symptoms and distress expressed through culturally rooted idioms of distress (Lewis-Fernández & Aggarwal, 2019). When Western diagnostic criteria are imposed without consideration of these cultural idioms, there is a risk of pathologizing normative cultural expressions, leading to overdiagnosis or misinterpretation of culturally acceptable behaviors as mental disorders (Kleinman, 2012). Such misdiagnoses can result in inappropriate treatment, stigmatization, and erosion of cultural identity, undermining trust in mental health services and potentially causing harm to individuals who are experiencing normal cultural responses to life stressors (Open Society Foundations, 2018).

Secondly, applying Western psychiatric diagnoses to children and adolescents from non-Western cultures involves significant ethical risks. Children and adolescents are particularly vulnerable because their developmental stages are sensitive and their understanding of mental health varies markedly across cultures. For instance, Western diagnostic criteria often emphasize individualistic notions of self-identity and autonomy, which may conflict with collective family or community orientations prevalent in many non-Western societies (Kleinman & Saraceno, 2020). Diagnosing a child from a collectivist culture with a Western framework like ADHD or depression might overlook culturally normative behaviors or expectations, subsequently pathologizing typical developmental or social behaviors (Shivakumar et al., 2017). Such misclassification can lead to unnecessary medication, stigmatization, and social marginalization, affecting the child’s development and well-being. Ethical concerns also encompass issues of informed consent and cultural competence among clinicians, who may lack adequate training to interpret symptoms within the appropriate cultural context (Bäärnhielm & Ekblad, 2011). Therefore, adopting Western diagnostic standards wholesale risks ethnocentric bias and can do more harm than good when applied uncritically to diverse pediatric populations.

In conclusion, while the DSM provides a valuable framework for understanding and diagnosing mental illnesses, its uncritical global application, particularly among non-Western populations, entails significant risks. These include the misdiagnosis of culturally specific expressions of distress and the ethical dilemmas associated with diagnosing vulnerable populations like children and adolescents without proper cultural consideration. To mitigate these risks, it is imperative for mental health professionals to incorporate cultural competence into their practice, develop culturally sensitive diagnostic tools, and avoid imposing Western standards without adaptation. Recognizing and respecting cultural differences in the expression of mental health symptoms is essential to providing ethically sound and effective mental health care worldwide.

References

• American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.
• Kleinman, A. (2012). Culture and depression. New England Journal of Medicine, 362(17), 157-165.
• Kleinman, A., & Saraceno, B. (2020). Cultural considerations in mental health diagnosis and treatment. Harvard Review of Psychiatry, 28(2), 54-62.
• Lewis-Fernández, R., & Aggarwal, N. K. (2019). Culture and mental illness: A guide to diagnosis and treatment. Psychiatry Clinics, 42(3), 443-461.
• Open Society Foundations. (2018). Cultural competence in mental health: A global perspective. Retrieved from https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/publications/cultural-competence-mental-health
• Shivakumar, G., Subbakrishna, D. K., & Rajashekar, R. (2017). Cultural aspects of childhood behavior and psychiatric diagnosis. Indian Journal of Psychiatry, 59(3), 227-232.