D Bhugra1. 1. Section of Cultural Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, De Crespigny Park, London, UK. d.bhugra@iop.kcl.ac.uk
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Societies and cultures have been described as being individualistic or collectivist (also called ego-centric or socio-centric). Similarly individuals are idiocentric or allocentric. METHOD: Using migration, migrants, ethnic minorities, collectivism and individualism, four databases of Embase, Medline, PsychInfo and Social Sciences abstracts were searched. Other key words included mental disorder, mental distress, psychiatric and psychological disorders. In addition, hand searches were conducted from the relevant books, monographs and secondary references. RESULTS: Migration, cultural identity and mental distress are linked. In addition, social support can provide a buffer against mental illness. Other vulnerability factors in migrants include the type of society they originate from and the type of society they settle in. CONCLUSION: When individuals migrate from one type of culture to another it is likely that depending upon their own personality traits (along with their biopsycho-social vulnerabilities) may develop psychiatric disorders. The cognitions and idioms of distress will be influenced by cultural factors. The clinicians must take into account cultural background when planning any interventions to enable a stronger therapeutic alliance.
OBJECTIVE: Societies and cultures have been described as being individualistic or collectivist (also called ego-centric or socio-centric). Similarly individuals are idiocentric or allocentric. METHOD: Using migration, migrants, ethnic minorities, collectivism and individualism, four databases of Embase, Medline, PsychInfo and Social Sciences abstracts were searched. Other key words included mental disorder, mental distress, psychiatric and psychological disorders. In addition, hand searches were conducted from the relevant books, monographs and secondary references. RESULTS: Migration, cultural identity and mental distress are linked. In addition, social support can provide a buffer against mental illness. Other vulnerability factors in migrants include the type of society they originate from and the type of society they settle in. CONCLUSION: When individuals migrate from one type of culture to another it is likely that depending upon their own personality traits (along with their biopsycho-social vulnerabilities) may develop psychiatric disorders. The cognitions and idioms of distress will be influenced by cultural factors. The clinicians must take into account cultural background when planning any interventions to enable a stronger therapeutic alliance.
Authors: Cendrine Bursztein Lipsicas; Ilkka Henrik Mäkinen; Alan Apter; Diego De Leo; Ad Kerkhof; Jouko Lönnqvist; Konrad Michel; Ellinor Salander Renberg; Isik Sayil; Armin Schmidtke; Cornelis van Heeringen; Airi Värnik; Danuta Wasserman Journal: Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol Date: 2011-01-01 Impact factor: 4.328
Authors: Dinesh Bhugra; Susham Gupta; Kamaldeep Bhui; Tom Craig; Nisha Dogra; J David Ingleby; James Kirkbride; Driss Moussaoui; James Nazroo; Adil Qureshi; Thomas Stompe; Rachel Tribe Journal: World Psychiatry Date: 2011-02 Impact factor: 49.548
Authors: Agnes C Schrier; Matty A S de Wit; Frank Rijmen; Wilco C Tuinebreijer; Arnoud P Verhoeff; Ralph W Kupka; Jack Dekker; Aartjan T F Beekman Journal: Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol Date: 2009-09-10 Impact factor: 4.328